The success of the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) has
led to its replication with different client populations, especially those
who are underserved by the traditional treatment system. This paper
describes a program in Baltimore that has adapted the PACT model to serve
homeless persons with severe mental illness. Although the essential
ingredients and philosophy of the original model were maintained, the
original team approach has been modified by the use of "miniteams." All
staff share knowledge of all program clients through formal mechanisms such
as daily meetings; however, each client is assigned to a miniteam composed
of a clinical case manager, a psychiatrist, and a consumer advocate.
Another deviation from the PACT model is that services can be time limited.
The authors describe four phases of treatment and problems, including
interventions characteristic of each phase.
Abstract Teaser