Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT)

A program to treat individuals with servere and persistent mental illness in the community.

What is FACT?

Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) is an effective, evidence-based, outreach-oriented, service-delivery model for people with severe and persistent mental illness. Using a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, team approach, FACT delivers comprehensive community treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to consumers in their homes, at work, and in community settings.

How many people does a FACT team serve?

A team can serve between 80 and 100 individuals.

Is FACT rehabilitation and recovery-oriented?

Absolutely! FACT is a rehabilitation model. FACT can help consumers regain control of their lives and move ahead with their plans. The FACT approach helps people live in regular housing, socialize in the community, and return to school or work. FACT's attention to basic needs (housing, medical care, income) enables consumers, even those with very severe disabilities - to regain stability, assess their goals, and take steps toward recovery.

FACT teams are coordinated combinations of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, therapists, substance abuse treatment specialists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and peer counselors. The team does not wait until a person comes to the office. The majority of services are delivered where consumers live, work, and spend their leisure time, not in the program office. The entire Team is responsible for rendering of treatment to those served, not just one counselor or case manager. The team uses a positive, persistent, practical approach offering:

Direct coordination of all medical care, both psychiatric and general health care
Help in managing symptoms of the illness
Immediate crisis response
New atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant medications
Supportive therapy
Practical on-site support in coping with life's day-to-day demands including:
Help obtaining financial entitlements and housing,
Assistance with housing tasks so a person can live in regular housing alone or with a roommate
Help with learning how to socialize
Treatment for clients who also have a substance abuse problem
Employment/vocational service and job placement
Assistance with legal issues
Support, education, and skill-teaching for family members

FACT team staff members serve both as specialists and as interchangeable generalists assisting the client in meeting his or her own goals. Team members accommodate individual life circumstances---face-to-face and across time---and respect the preferences of each client. If needed, team members will meet a client throughout the day and evening, in a restaurant, at their apartment, or at a parent's home.

The result? Greater strides toward recovery and a better quality of life, fewer dropouts, fewer re-hospitalizations, diversion from jails and less burden on families.

Funded in part by: Department of Children and Families

FACT Team 1-888-822-8826
24 Hours Daily - 7 Days a Week

NAMI
The Nation's Voice on Mental Illness
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015
Arlington, VA 22203-375
703-524-7600
www.nami.org