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Byron Johnson
Communications Director
703-294-6001
October 23, 2019
SMI Adviser Releases "AOT White Paper" Authored by Treatment Advocacy Center and Northeast Ohio Medical University
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PAPER LAYS OUT ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS, BUILDING BLOCKS, AND TIPS FOR PRACTICING ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
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ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA -SMI Adviser has released a "white paper," created by the Treatment Advocacy Center and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), to serve as an informational starting point for anyone interested in establishing or improving a local "assisted outpatient treatment" (AOT) program.
AOT is court-ordered, community-based treatment for individuals with severe mental illness who struggle to engage with treatment on a voluntary basis. When utilized appropriately and coupled with high-quality treatment services, AOT is a proven best practice to help its target population avoid repeat hospitalization and arrest.
- What is AOT, and what is an AOT program?
- How does a community establish an AOT program and sustain it as a permanent feature of a local mental health system?
- How do AOT programs maximize their results in helping participants avoid psychiatric crisis, repeat hospitalization and the criminal justice system?
Drafted in consultation with a panel of AOT experts from across the nation, the white paper sets forth nine "Essential Elements" that define an AOT program, ten "Building Blocks" for establishing and maintaining an AOT program, and eight "Tips" from AOT practitioners to improve outcomes. Clear and accessible, the white paper is designed to be relevant to, and shareable among, all stakeholders required for local AOT implementation and practice: judges and court personnel, public mental health agency staff, providers of both inpatient and community-based mental health services, law enforcement officers, and consumer and family advocates.
John Snook, Executive Director of the Treatment Advocacy Center, stated: "The Treatment Advocacy Center is working to make AOT a routine 'tool in the toolkit' of every local mental health system in the United States. By putting critical information into the hands of those looking to implement AOT in their own communities, the white paper represents a major step toward that goal."
The Treatment Advocacy Center is also developing E-learning modules, due to be released by SMI Adviser in February 2020, to complement the white paper and further expand access to basic information on implementing and practicing AOT.
The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness. The organization promotes laws, policies and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for, and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
SMI Adviser is an initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and implemented by the American Psychiatric Association. Its mission is to advance the use of person-centered approaches to care that ensure treatment and support for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Through the SMI Adviser website and smartphone app, clinicians can access education, data, and consultations to help them make evidence-based treatment decisions, and individuals affected by SMI can access resources and answers from a national network of experts. Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has for more than 40 years worked in collaboration with its educational, clinical and research partners to successfully train health professionals and medical researchers who serve and impact northeast Ohio and beyond. The University trains students in a team-based, interprofessional environment and offers Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees, in addition to master's and doctoral degrees and research opportunities in other medical areas. |
