Parents served by assertive community treatment: prevalence, treatment services, and provider attitudes

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice for individuals with severe mental illness. Although studies estimate at least half of all people with severe mental illness are parents, little is known about ACT policies and services for consumers who are parents. ACT providers from 67 teams completed a survey assessing policies for identifying parent consumers of ACT, estimated prevalence of parent consumers, available treatment services, and attitudes about parent consumers. Participants estimated that 18% of ACT consumers are parents. However, less than half of participants (47.8%) reported formally asking about parental status during intake and only 22.4% reported providing programs or services designed for parent consumers. Most participants (about 80%) reported negative or mixed attitudes about parenting with severe mental illness. Findings suggest the need for more attention and focus on parent consumers, including the formal identification of consumers' parental status and availability of parent-related treatment services.