U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

The Assisted Outpatient Treatment Grant Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (AOT) is intended to implement and evaluate new AOT programs and identify evidence-based practices in order to reduce the incidence and duration of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, incarcerations, and interactions with the criminal justice system while improving the health and social outcomes of individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI). This program is designed to work with courts to allow these individuals to obtain treatment while continuing to live in the community and their homes.

Recipients funded with this grant will be required to:

• Demonstrate and utilize existing relationships with local participants in the civil commitment process including law enforcement, families, judges, and/or administrative law judges/magistrates and special justices that preside over civil commitment processes on AOT, hospitals, inpatient settings, housing services, and peer recovery support services. Build a coalition of local stakeholders in the civil commitment process so that local issues and barriers regarding the implementation of AOT can be addressed.
• Evaluate the psychiatric, social, and medical needs of individuals participating in the program.
• Prepare and execute a treatment plan that includes evidence-based mental and, when indicated, substance use disorder services to those living with SMI including the delivery of outpatient and intensive outpatient services with a multidisciplinary team of clinical experts.
• Provide case management services that support the treatment plan, including ensuring that appropriate referrals are made to medical and home- and community-based social service and recovery support service providers.
• Form partnerships between the behavioral health entities that provide an array of evidence-based treatment and the criminal justice system, including the courts.
• Evaluate the process for implementing AOT to ensure consistency with the individual’s needs and state law.
• Provide community recovery support services, including educational/training programs aimed at assisting with employment, other employment services, housing linkages, peer recovery support, and other related services.

Amount: Approximately $13,398,000 is available to make up to 14 awards ranging up to $1,000,000 per year for a period of up to four years.

Eligibility: States, counties, cities, mental health systems (including state mental health authorities), mental health courts, or any other entity with authority under the law of the state in which the applicant is located to implement, monitor, and oversee AOT programs. Applicants must operate in jurisdictions that have in place an existing, sufficient array of services for individuals with SMI, such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), mobile crisis teams, supportive housing, supported employment, peer supports, case management, outpatient psychotherapy services, medication management, and trauma informed care.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322734

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