OAR 309-019-0226: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Overview

(1) The ACT Model is an evidence-based practice with a specified Service Priority Population per 309-019-0225(28) and is implemented as a Community Based service. This service delivery is designed to be a long-term support; therefore, is not intended to be a solution for an immediate or short-term crisis. The clinical evaluation is comprised of specific criteria Oregon’s ACT Teams are expected to: (a) Operate as a Multidisciplinary Team and Fixed-Point of Responsibility per OAR 309-019-0225(16); (b) Operate as close to recommended best practice of at least 10:1 client to staff ratio for Urban teams and 7:1 for Rural and Frontier, to consistently provide necessary staffing diversity and coverage. (c) Provide time-unlimited services; (d) Be flexible with service delivery; (e) 24/7 crisis availability. (2) ACT Programs must adhere to the following: (a) Providing explicit admission criteria that aligns with Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) with the Service Priority Population as defined in 309-019- 0225 (28) utilizing the Universal Referral Form provided by the Division per 309-019-0248; (b) The admission process and Universal Referral Form must be published for any public person(s) and/or community partners to freely access on program websites to ensure equitable access. This includes promoting the no-wrong-door concept by providing quality customer service for requests of services from non-behavioral health individuals (family members, shelter staff or self-referrals) then routing appropriately to eliminate unintended barriers due to lack of knowledge of the complexities of behavioral health system. (c) Provide a space for group therapy and/or skill building workshops for participants. These spaces can be in agency owned buildings; however, majority of other service delivery of ACT need to take place within a community setting outside of an office-like atmosphere as intended.