2012 ACT Conference Brochure Online - Assertive Community ...

28 th Annual 

Assertive Community 

Treatment Conference 

Boston, Massachusetts 

May 16-18, 2012 

Preconferences 

May 15, 2012 

The Boston Park Plaza 

Hotel and Towers 

Promoting Quality Assertive Community Treatment Services and 

Integrated Systems-of-Care Models - “Whatever It Takes”

ACTA 

Board of Directors 

President 

Steven Harrington, MPA, JD 

National Association of Peer 

Specialists, Recover Resources 

and Boston University Center for 

Psychiatric Rehabilitation 

Revere, Massachusetts 

Vice President 

John Fallon, BS 

Corporation for 

Supportive Housing 

Chicago, Illinois 

Secretary/Treasurer 

Darryl Mordell, BS 

Allegan County Community 

Mental Health 

Allegan, Michigan 

Leslie Hall, MSW 

Community Mental Health 

Services of Livingston County 

Howell, Michigan 

Larry Mack, MA., LPC-I 

Telecare Mental Health Services 

San Antonio, Texas 

Antonio Lambert 

Recover Resources 

Smyrna, Delaware 

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

Please join hundreds of your colleagues for the 28th Annual 

ACT Conference, May 15-18, 2012 as we return to the east 

coast, in the historic Back Bay of Boston, Massachusetts. We 

are very excited to be presenting this year’s conference in 

Boston in a progressive mental health services environment 

and in one of the oldest and most vibrant cities in the United 

States. The ACT Conference, a truly unique and one-of-akind 

experience, continues to be the premiere educational and networking event 

for the providers and users of comprehensive, community-based, and integrated 

services, family members, administrators, educators, researchers, and mental 

health policy makers. This year, over 100 presenters from across the nation and 

around the world will share their experiences and expertise in ACT, presenting on 

a wide variety of topics in some 70 meetings, preconference trainings, workshops, 

and institutes. Due to the number of excellent presentation proposals received by 

the committee, for the second consecutive year, there will be two sets of afternoon 

breakout sessions following the conference’s opening address on Wednesday. 

We are most pleased to present our Plenary Speakers. Antonio Lambert, Training 

Manager for Recover Resources, ACT program start-up consultant, and Peer 

Support Specialist will give the Opening Plenary on Wednesday afternoon, ACT 

Means Action! Mr. Lambert will share his personal story of recovery and discuss 

his commitment to the ACT model. As a result of his remarkable recovery journey 

and contributions to mental health and substance abuse services, Mr. Lambert was 

recently the subject of a feature story in the New York Times. He has also been 

featured in other news, mental health and popular publications. Sam Tsemberis, 

CEO of Pathways to Housing, will present the Closing Plenary on Friday morning, 

speaking about “Act Then and Now”, and his interview with Len Stein. Others 

who have worked with and heard these men present attest to their passion and 

commitment to helping those with serious and persistent mental illness. 

Located in the heart of historic Back Bay, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is 

one of Boston’s most recognized and renowned landmarks. The Boston Park Plaza 

is a member of Historic Hotels of America and opened in March, 1927 as part of the 

E.M. Statler Empire. With an unsurpassed location, the hotel is located only 3 miles 

from Logan International Airport and only 200 yards from the nation’s first public 

parks, the Boston Common & the Public Garden. The hotel is easily accessible to 

shopping along world renowned Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and 

the Theatre & Financial Districts. The amenities at the hotel include Full-Service 

Concierge, 24 Hour Room Service, a Fitness Center, and several in-house restaurants 

and bars. 

Over 600 of us gathered last year in beautiful Huntington Beach, California 

and nearly 16,000 people have attended previous ACT Conferences over the 

past 27 years. You will leave this conference feeling renewed and inspired to 

continue helping people diagnosed with serious mental illness in their journey of 

empowerment and recovery. We hope to see you in Boston, Massachusetts in May! 

Kind regards, 

Alexandra 

Alexandra Sixbey-Spring, BA 

Program & Services Coordinator 

Assertive Community Treatment Association 

Promoting Quality Assertive Community Treatment Services & Integrated Systems-of-Care Models ACT Conference 2012 

11

Late Afternoon Mid-Afternoon Mid-Morning Early Morning 

Evening 

2 

28th Annual Assertive Community Treatment Conference 

May 15-18, 2012 • The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers • Boston, Massachusetts 

Schedule At-A-Glance 

Tuesday, May 15 Wednesday, May 16 Thursday, May 17 Friday, May 18 

Check-in/ 

Information Desk Open 

7:30 -11:30 AM & 1:30 - 5:00 PM 

Continental Breakfast 

7:30 - 8:30 AM 

(For Registered Attendees of 

Preconferences) 

Preconference 1 

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM 


8:30 AM 5:00 PM 


8:30 AM – 5:00 PM 

Coffee Break 

10:00 - 10:30 AM 



Preconference 1 continued 



Luncheon 

Noon - 1:00 PM 






Beverage Break 

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM 






Evaluations and Certificates 

4:45 - 5:00 PM 

Check-in/ 


7:30 AM - 5:00 PM 

Book Sales and Exhibits 

8:00 AM 5:00 PM 

Coffee & Bakery Selection 

7:30 -10:00 AM 

Veterans Administration 

MHICM Meeting 

8:30 AM - Noon 

ACT State Leaders Forum 


Check-in/ 


Veterans Administration 

MHICM Meeting continued… 



continued… 


Lunch On Your Own 

Opening Remarks 

1:00 - 1:20 PM 

Imperial Ballroom 

Opening Plenary – 


1:20 - 2:30 PM 


Beverage Break 

2:30 – 3:00 PM 

Concurrent Workshops 

1 thru 11 

3:00 - 4:30 PM 

ACTA Annual Meeting 

5:00 - 5:45 PM 


12 thru 21 

5:00 - 6:30 PM 

Check-in/ 


7:30 - 11:30 AM & 1:00 - 5:00 PM 


8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Breakfast 

(Prepaid Admission Only) 

7:30 - 8:30 AM 

Concurrent Institutes A-C 


Concurrent Workshops 22 thru 29 

8:30 - 10:00 AM 

Coffee Break – All Sessions 

10:00 - 10:30 AM 

Continuation of Institutes A-C 

10:30 AM - Noon 


10:30 AM - Noon 

Luncheon 


Noon - 1:15 PM 

Concurrent Institutes D-F 

1:30 - 5:00 PM 


1:30 - 3:00 PM 

Beverage Break – All Sessions 

3:00 - 3:30 PM 

Continuation of Institutes D-F 

3:30 - 5:00 PM 


3:30 - 5:00 PM 

Check-in/ 


8:00 AM - 12:30 PM 


8:00 - 11:00 AM 

Breakfast 


7:45 - 8:45 AM 


54 thru 64 

9:00 - 10:30 AM 

Hotel Check-out and 

Luggage Storage 

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM 

Closing Plenary – 

Sam Tsemberis 

11:00 AM - Noon 


Sweepstakes & Closing 

Comments 

Noon - 12:30 PM 


Promoting Quality Assertive Community Treatment Services & Integrated Systems-of-Care Models ACT Conference 2012

Preconference Institute 1 • Tuesday, May 15, 2012 

The ACT Association is pleased to offer a CHOICE of Three PRECONFERENCE INSTITUTES. 

Please note that you may attend ONLY the preconference institute for which you are registered and 

changing preconferences onsite is not possible. 

Recovery Relationships: The Art of Developing, Maintaining 

and Repairing Supportive Relationships 

Program Overview 

We all know that social relationships are vital to the human experience. Through decades of research, we 

also know that healthy, supportive relationships can be the most powerful agent for lifestyle change. But, too 

often, persons with psychiatric conditions, and perhaps especially those receiving ACT services, lack the skills, 

knowledge and motivation to create, build and repair social relationships. This session will briefly cover what 

recent research has found in regard to relationships and their role in physical and mental health and will focus 

directly on ways mental health professionals can help those they serve find and enjoy healthy relationships. The 

session will also cover ways to repair damaged relationships, particularly among friends and family. This will 

be a highly interactive session with group discussions, role plays and a variety of enjoyable and meaningful 

activities. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the role relationships play in 

physical and mental health, 2) List methods to repair and build relationships. 

Presenters 

Steve Harrington, MPA, JD, President, ACT Association, Post-doctoral Fellow, Boston University’s Center 

for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Revere, Massachusetts; Antonio Lambert, Board Member, ACT Association, 

National Speaker & Consultant, Training Manager, Recover Resources, Smyrna, Delaware 

Recovery Relationships Agenda 

7:30 – 8:30 AM ..................... Check – In and Continental Breakfast 

8:30 – 10:00 AM ....................Relationship Basics: Why they are important for everyone, 

characteristics of a healthy relationship, benefits of healthy 

relationships, where to meet others for potential relationships 

10:00 - 10:30 AM ...................Coffee Break with game (Human Scavenger Hunt) 

10:30 AM - Noon ...................Discussion of scavenger hunt results, barriers to creating and 

maintaining supportive relationships, exploring relationship issues in 

the mental health context 

Noon - 1:00 PM .....................Luncheon 

1:15 – 2:45 PM ....................... Helping others reach beyond comfort zones to create supportive 

relationships using role plays and group discussion 

2:45 – 3:15 PM .......................Beverage Break 

3:15 – 4:45 PM .......................Client-Mental Health Worker Relationships, Recovery Promoting 

Relationships Scale 

4:45 - 5:00 PM .......................Wrap-up, Evaluations & Certificates 

Promoting Quality Assertive Community Treatment Services & Integrated Systems-of-Care Models ACT Conference 2012 3

4 





A Look at Motivational Interviewing: 

Using Motivational Interventions in Our Daily Work 


SAMHSA has identified Motivational Interviewing as, “a proven and effective way to engage individuals with cooccurring 

disorders, develop therapeutic relationships, and determine individualized goals” (2010). This preconference 

institute will review Open Ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflective (Active) Listening, Summarizing (OARS), 

DiClemente’s Stages / Processes of Change, and group dynamics. 

Participants will review Motivational Interventions, Harm Reduction, and the Stages of Treatment. Additionally, the 

training will look at how to conduct Engagement, Persuasion and Active Treatment Groups. By the end of the session, 

participants will be able to: 1) Identify practical adaptations of Motivational Interviewing in our daily work; 2) Examine 

Motivational Interventions in Psycho-Educational groups. 

Presenters 

Gary Clark, MSW, LCSW, ACT Coordinator, Community Based Care Coordination & Treatment Services, 

State of New York, Office of Mental Health; Pascale Jean-Noel, LMSW, Director of Training, ACT Institute, 

Center for Practice & Innovations, New York Psychiatric Institute; Luis O. Lopez, MS, HSBCP, Director 

of Best Practices, Services for the Underserved, all of New York, New York 

A Look at Motivational Interviewing Agenda 

7:30 - 8:30 AM ..........................Check-In and Continental Breakfast 

8:30 – 10:00 AM .........................Introductions & Acknowledgements 

Overview of Motivational Interventions 

DiClemente’s Stages/Processes of Change 

10:00 - 10:30 AM ........................Coffee Break 

10:30 AM – Noon .......................Engagement, Affirmations, Reflective Listening 

Noon - 1:00 PM ..........................Luncheon 

1:15 – 2:45 PM ............................Open Ended Questions, Summarizing 

2:45 – 3:15 PM ............................Beverage Break 

3:15 – 4:45 PM ............................Simple Applications in Individual Counseling & 

Psycho-Educational Groups 

4:45 - 5:00 PM ............................Wrap-up, Evaluations & Certificates 







Trauma Informed Services and Supports: 

Environment to Practice 

Creation of trauma informed systems and supports has become a national social change movement and a mental 

health systems change priority. Trauma-informed means providers have considered the impact of trauma on people’s 

lives and work to engage and support individuals recognizing its impact. For mental health and substance abuse 

service users the high correlation between trauma and these conditions is well documented. This institute will provide 

an overview of the impact of trauma, information about what is helpful from survivors’ and providers’ perspectives, 

strategies to create environments and practices that are trauma informed, and tools to assist in the process. Survivors, 

providers, family members and community supporters are all welcome to attend. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Express the centrality of trauma and its impact on people’s 

lives; 2) Identify the principles of trauma informed services and supports; 3) Describe the skills necessary to change 

relationships, approaches, and environments within ACT to become more trauma informed. 

Presenters 

Cathy Cave, BS, Founding Partner, Michael Johnan, MA, Founding Partner, both of Unlimited Mindfulness 

Consulting, Delmar, New York 

Trauma Informed Services and Supports Agenda 

7:30 - 8:30 AM ............... Check-In and Continental Breakfast 

8:30 – 10:00 AM ............. Overview of Trauma and Its Impact 

10:00 - 10:30 AM ............ Coffee Break 

10:30 AM - Noon ............ Principles of Trauma Informed Care 

Noon - 1:00 PM .............. Luncheon 

1:15 – 2:45 PM ................ Survivor/Provider Partnerships to Promote Change 

2:45 – 3:15 PM ................ Beverage Break 

3:15 – 4:45 PM ................ Creating Trauma Informed Environments 

4:45 - 5:00 PM ................ Wrap-up, Evaluations and Certificates 


Conference Program Index 

Opening Plenary • Wednesday Afternoon 

ACT Means Action! ....................................................................................................................... Antonio Lambert 

Closing Plenary • Friday Morning 

ACT Then & Now: An Interview with Len Stein Reflecting on the Genesis & 

Development of ACT Teams ..................................................................................................Sam Tsemberis 

Meetings • Wednesday 


VA Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) Meeting ......................... Jay Cohen, Marcia Hunt, 

and Somaia Mohamed 

Assertive Community Treatment Association Annual Meeting ...........................Steve Harrington, MPA, JD; 

ACT Board President 

Institutes • Thursday 

A. Integrating Stages of Change & Motivational Interviewing Skills Into Recovery Planning...Scott Madover 

B. TMACT: A Technical Assistance Tool for Quality Improvement ............Maria Monroe-DeVita, Lorna Moser, 

and Gregory B. Teague 

C. Flexible ACT (FACT) in the Netherlands: Practice & Evidence .................. Michel Bähler, Janneke Ferwerda, 

and Marieke van de Ven Dijkman 

D. Reducing Staff Turnover & Burnout: Tips for Team Leaders ..............................Gary Morse, Angela Rollins, 

and Michelle P. Salyers 

E. Creating Recovery-Centered Service Plans & Progress Notes ........................................ Annette M. Cañeda 

F. Shortcut to Starting a DBT Skills Group in an ACT Program .......... Emmalee Agostini, Jennifer Pasternack 

WORKSHOPS • Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 

Wednesday Afternoon 

1. Using Qualitative Research to Inform Clinical Practice ............................................................................... Simon Wharne 

2. Staff Countertransference to Personaility Disorders/Traits ......................................... David Lindy, MacDara O’Sullivan, 

and Caroline Williams 

3. The Missing Link: Cognitive Deficit in Schizophrenia ...............................................................Paul Borish, Kevin C. Riley 

4. Peer Support Whole Health & Resiliency: An Integrative Implementation Model for ACT Teams ........ Patricia Kenny, 

Robert Rousseau 

5. Achieve Long Term Effectiveness – Build Professional Relationships ............................................................... Mark Buck 

6. ACT Team Policies & Practices for the Treatment of Consumers Who Are Also Parents .Michelle Salyers, Laura White 

7. Mount Sinai ACTT – How to Engage Hard to Reach Clients ..........................................................................Wendy Chow 

8. Exploring Identity: Approaches to Enhance Strengths & Resilience.............. Annette M. Cañeda, Marcelo Cavalheiro, 

and Scott Madover 

9. FACT or Collaborative Court Program Approach in Mental Health Courts ........................ Andrew Inglis, Ian Kemmer, 

and Annette Mugrditchian 

10. ACT Team Evolution: Identifying Team Effectiveness ...............................................JoAnne L. Davis, Angela C. DiCarne 

11. Trauma-Informed Care ACT Model; How We Can Make a Difference .................................Paul Kowal, Rebecca Roma, 

and Jessica Zembower 

6 


Wednesday Evening 

Thursday Morning 

WORKSHOPS 

12. ACT Progressive Treatment Program – A Court Ordered Treatment Option ............ John R. Jaksa, Mary Ellen Quinn 

13. Trauma-Informed ACT Services: Supporting Consumers & Staff ................................................................Sam Bauman 

14. Assertive Community Treatment for the Elderly ..................................................................................... Jolanda Stobbe 

15. Working with the South-East Asian Population ....................................................Justine L. Caton, Rosalind M. Magill, 

and Savannah Phim 

16. Making Connections in Challenging Areas & Staying Safe ........................................... Jean Nemenzik, Eric Spaulding, 

and Kathy Staugaeno 

17. Communications Technologies in an Appalachian ACT Program ............................ M. Anthony Graham, April Simms 

18. A Comparative Overview of Long Acting Injectable Psychotics ...............................................................Dean Najarian 

19. Family Peer Support .......................................................................................................................................Mona Cooley 

20. The Team Leader & Psychiatrist’s Relationship on an ACT Team: Two Views, One Vision .........................Chris Blough, 

Holly Karalus, and Lou Picchio 

21. Using DBT with ACT Consumers to “Create a Life Worth Living” ................Raymond McManamon, Deena Rudolph 

22. Facilitating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan – WRAP ...................................Gary Clark, Pascale Jean-Noel, Luis Lopez 

23. Treating Schizophrenia After Release from Incarceration .........................................................................Dean Najarian 

24. Are You a Good Leader? ............................................................................................JoAnne L. Davis, Angela C. DiCarne 

25. Task Analysis for Less Restrictive Housing ....................................................................... Devon Horton, Karen M. Schen 

26. Supporting Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities ..............................................................................................Neil Harbus 

27. Maintaining Healthy Boundaries – A Clinical Guide ..........................................................Clayton Chau, Jenny Hudson 

28. High-Fidelity Person-Centered Planning in a Multi-ACT Team System ........................... Deborah Duch, Regina Janov, 

and Kim Patterson 

29. Lean Production: Improving Processes & Outcomes in ACT ..............................................Mimi Falbo, Christine Gregor, 

and Shaun Kostiuk 

30. Paying Attention to Voices .........................................................................................................Paul Borish, Kevin C. Riley 

31. Safety-Proof Yourself! Safety Practices for Community Visits...................................................................... Mark Buck 

32. Measuring Readiness for a Successful Transition .................. David Lindy, MacDara O’Sullivan, and Caroline Williams 

33. Providing Apartment Living for Transition Age Youth ..........................................................Clarita Mason, Daniel Roth 

34. The Art of Recovery .....................................................................................................Michael Buchert, Richelle Nordeen 

35. Empowering ACT Members Through a Mobile Communications Tool .................... Shari Hutchinson, Nancy Parrotta, 

and Kimberly Sonafelt 

36. Minnesota ACT Teams Get Assertive to Decrease Mortality ...................................................... Tracy Hinz, Walter Rush 

and Helen Wood 

37. Community Medication Management in ACT .....................................................Walter F. Jarvis III, Kimberly Patterson 


8 

WORKSHOPS 

Thursday Afternoon 

38. Resolving Ambivalence & Reducing Resistance .....................................................................................Frances D. Yokley 

39. Verbal Threat Assessment ................................................................................................................................... Mark Buck 

40. Training & Quality Improvement for ACT Teams: What Works? .................................Deborah Duch, Emily Heberlein, 

Friday Morning 

and Kim Patterson 

41. A Comparison of Three ACT Teams in Maine & New Zealand ......................................Julie Keller Pease, Alex Veguilla 

42. Healing from Within: The Role of Spirituality in Recovery .............................................................................Neil Harbus 

43. Mental Health Intensive Case Management: Use of Evidence Based Interventions ........ Tosha L. Ellis, Jeanne Samter 

44. Hope – The Fuel for an Individual’s Recovery Journey .................................................. David Heffron, Jennifer Obermeyer 

45. ACT Program Implementation and Team Start-Up ................................................................................. Patricia Brouwer 

46. Stages of Change: Empower Employment Choices for ACT Clients ..................Anthony Deleon, Christopher Sullivan 

47. Development of an Integrated Health Home in an ACT Program ......................... Mindy Blair, Jill Koch, Sherry Parish 

48. Spark in the Dark ............................................Cyrene Baskett, Christa Overson, Faye Beth Pingry, Mark Schneiderhan 

49. Integration of Treatment & Learning in Working with Adolescents ........................... Dorothe Ernste, Ilone Kleijberg 

50. Striving to be the Best: What is Effective ACT Leadership? ................................................... Tracy Hinz, Lynette Studer 

51. One Did Fly Over the Cuckoo’s Nest & Decided to Roost There ............Kristin Hochard, Bill Napora, Matthew Parker 

52. Supported Choice Making: Choice Not Control ............................. Marc Chinard, David Heffron, Jennifer Obermeyer 

53. ACT Rocks: A Collaborative Newfoundland Perspective ....................Beverley Barrett, Pamela Parsons, Shannon Pike 

54. The Role of Relatives & Informal Caregivers in ACT ......................................................... Pravin Israel, Bente Weimand 

55. Client Death & Its Implication on an ACT Team ............................................................ Jennifer Eyford, Shelly Qualtieri 

56. Implementing IPS within ACT – Making Employment as Easy as ABC ....................................................Michelle Fassler 

57. Getting Out of Recovery’s Way: Rural ACT in Michigan & California .............................Lynn T. Johnson, Carol Stanchfield 

58. Implementing ACT with IDDT: Lessons Learned ......................................................................Scott Gerhard, Jon Ramos 

59. Using a “Step Up” Group for Individuals with Co-Occurring Disorders to Transitioning from ACT ........Jorge Duque, 

Yelena Rybkina 

60. Golden Nuggets of PACT Wisdom: Recruiting the Right Team .......................................................................... Brian Eig 

61. Practical Safety for ACT Teams ................................................................................. Richelle Nordeen, Kevin St. Jacques 

62. Creating Culture Change at Your Agency ............................................................................Marc Chinard, David Mullen 

63. An Innovative Approach to Measuring ACT Model Fidelity: Self-Report vs. Phone-Based Fidelity ........... Laura White 

64. E-Learning ACT: Blending E-Learning & Social Media into Instructional Design ...........Kevin Mehnert, Lorraine Pauley 


Conference Agenda 

Wednesday Morning • May 16, 2012 

7:30 - 10:00 AM Coffee and Bakery Selections 

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Check-in and Information Desk Open 

Pre-registered conference attendees may pick up their conference packet at the registration tables. Conference 

registration for individuals not pre-registered can be completed at the registration tables on a space-available 

basis. Facility maps, general information, and conference materials will also be found at the registration tables. 

Registration and Conference Staff: Alexandra, Genevieve and Jared Sixbey-Spring, all of the ACT Association, 

Brighton, Michigan and Novato, California 

8:30 AM - Noon V.A. Mental Health Intensive Case Management 

(MHICM) Meeting 

VA Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) staff and other interested participants attending the 

ACTA conference will kick off the conference with a meeting on Wednesday morning. The half-day meeting 

will include an overview of the history of MHICM, RANGE, and E-RANGE; differences between ACT and 

MHICM; and recent changes in VA Central Office and the impact on the Intensive Case Management Programs. 

Breakout sessions will focus on program start-up and implementation; consumer and family engagement; 

rehabilitation and recovery skills; and housing and vocational resources. All ACT conference attendees are 

welcome to attend. 

Facilitators: Jay L. Cohen, PhD, Acting MHICM Program Director, Office of Mental Health Services, Battle 

Creek, Michigan; Marcia Hunt, PhD, MHICM Project Director, Northeast Program Evaluation Center, Office 

of Mental Health Operations, West Haven, Connecticut; Somaia Mohamed, MD, PhD, RANGE Project Director, 

Northeast Program Evaluation Center, Office of Mental Health Operations, West Haven, Connecticut, all of the 

Veterans Administration Central Office 

8:30 AM - Noon ACT State Leaders Forum 

This informal gathering of ACT State Leaders from throughout the nation offers a unique opportunity for state 

leaders to network and learn from each other about approaches to funding, delivering, managing, and evaluating 

Assertive Community Treatment programs. 


10 

General Session Commences 

Wednesday Afternoon • May 16, 2012 

1:00 - 1:10 PM Opening Remarks and Welcome to the Conference 

Speaker: Steve Harrington, MPA, JD, President, ACT Association, Post-doctoral Fellow, Boston University’s 

Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Revere, Massachusetts 

1:10 - 1:20 PM Introduction of Antonio Lambert 

Speaker: Steve Harrington, MPA, JD, President, ACT Association, Post-doctoral Fellow, Boston University’s 

Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Revere, Massachusetts 

1:20 - 2:30 PM Opening Plenary 

ACT Means Action! 


The ACT Association is pleased to welcome Antonio Lambert as the opening 

speaker at this year’s 28 th Annual ACT Conference. In the 2012 ACT Conference 

Opening Plenary, Antonio will deliver a high energy speech about his life and mental 

health experience. Trouble for Antonio began as a child. Sexual and emotional 

abuse and neglect led to a life on the streets where he joined a gang and abused 

drugs. He learned how to survive in an urban jungle but those survival skills led 

to bullet wounds and prison. At age 17, Antonio Lambert had been shot nine times 

and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. After 16 years of incarceration, Antonio 

emerged severely depressed, confused and uncertain. There was one thing he was 

sure about—he had to change his life or he would end up dead or spend the rest of 

his life behind bars. With the help of a mentor, Antonio found hope and a new direction for his life. He began 

work as an ACT peer specialist in 2001 and became a respected trainer for mental health professionals for a 

large mental health service organization. Antonio learned he could turn adversity into opportunities and set about 

building a life full of meaning not only for himself but others he saw in a similar circumstances. 

Antonio has worked as a consultant to help create ACT teams in North Carolina. He has presented moving keynote 

addresses at national mental health conferences throughout the United States. Antonio’s workshops and courses 

are not your average fare. He brings courage to be creative in ways that engage and motivate participants who 

leave with new ideas, inspiration and meaning. As a result of his remarkable journey and contributions to mental 

health and substance abuse services, Antonio was the subject of a feature story in the New York Times. He has 

also been featured in other news, mental health and popular publications. Currently, Antonio is the training 

manager for Recover Resources. He assesses the needs as expressed by those seeking training and forms teams of 

facilitators to bring a special brand of training—one that is long remembered and meaningful. He is also an ACT 

Association Board Member. 

2:30 - 3:00 PM Beverage Break 



3:00 - 4:30 PM Concurrent Workshops 1 through 12 11 

1 

2 

3 

Using Qualitative Research to Inform Clinical Practice 

During this workshop material from qualitative studies to inform clinical practice in ACT services will be presented. 

Insights will be given into processes of engagement, therapeutic alliance, team-working and decision-making. 

In addition, the presenter will discuss the role of qualitative research methods, as complimenting or potentially 

critical, of quantitative studies. There will be group discussion around the use of qualitative studies and practical 

information on how such studies might be run in ACT services will be shared. 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe important differences between qualitative 

and quantitative research methodologies, identifying contrasting implications for clinical practice, so as to be 

more effective in interpreting research data; 2) Identify ways to evaluate research studies, build alliances with 

academic colleagues and make use of research findings in clinical practice. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC and 50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Simon Wharne, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBPs, SDip, Chair, National Forum for Assertive Outreach, Team 

Leader, Hastings Assertive Outreach Team, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, East Sussex, England 

Staff Countertransference to Personality Disorders/Traits 

Powerful countertransference reactions to personality disorders/traits among ACT clients are inevitable, ubiquitous, 

and can bear directly on clinical outcomes. In 2008, a focus group on staff burnout identified this clinical reality as 

a major contributor to staff exhaustion, frustration and decreased efficiency. In response new supports, supervision 

and evidence-based clinical strategies (i.e., DBT) were operationalized. This workshop describes the impact of this 

initiative on staff burnout and clinical outcomes. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain countertransference with personality disorders; 2) 

Describe the efficacy of evidence based practice with personality disorders; 3) Examine the relationship between 

worker satisfaction and clinical outcomes. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC, 40% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: David C. Lindy, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Clinical 

Director & Chief Psychiatrist; MacDara O’Sullivan, MSW, LCSW, ACT Team Leader; Caroline Williams, MD, 

ACT Team Psychiatrist, all of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Community Mental Health Services, New 

York, New York 

The Missing Link: Cognitive Deficit in 

Schizophrenia 

When treatment is unsuccessful, clinicians blame themselves, the 

participant or “the system”. Perhaps there is another, hidden factor to 

consider. This workshop explores the nature and extent of cognitive 

deficits observed in schizophrenia and distinguishes this factor from 

other symptoms of the illness. A model to appreciate the role of 

deficits as ‘treatment interfering behaviors’ is presented. Examples 

of simple modifications for interventions to enhance treatment 

effectiveness are explored. 

By the end of the sessions, participants will be able to: 1) Identify 

the nature and extent of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia; 2) 

Differentiate between cognitive deficit and negative symptoms; 3) 

Incorporate methods to address or circumvent deficits in treatment 

planning. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT 

ALL LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, 20% PARTICIPATORY, AND 

5% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Paul Borish, MA, LPC, CAC-D, Team Leader, The 

Reading Hospital and Medical Center ACT Program; Kevin C. 

Riley, PhD, Psychologist, both of The Department of Psychiatry, 

The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Reading, Pennsylvania 


11

12 

4 

5 

6 

7 


Peer Support Whole Health & Resiliency: An Integrative Implementation 

Model for ACT Teams 

All ACT team members are welcome to examine the 10 week Peer Support Whole Health and Resiliency Program. 

PSWHR embodies a person centered philosophy that integrates achievable somatic (body), psychic (mind/affect) 

and pneumatic (spiritual) goals drawn from 10 domains of life. PSWHR uses stress management techniques 

developed by Dr. Herbert Benson at the University of Massachusetts Hospital. PSWHR is a completely positive 

approach to whole health and resiliency based on the premise that new habits are easier to create than old habits 

are to relinquish. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the importance of Peer Support Whole Health & 

Resiliency; 2) Discuss the elements of PSWHR; 3) Describe how PACT staff and persons served can implement 

PSWHR together. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 

50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Patricia Kenny, MS, Director of Community Service, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, 

Boston, Massachusetts; Robert Rousseau, MDiv, MA, ACPS, MHRE, Corporate Director of Peer Recovery 

Services, Fellowship Health Resources, New Bedford, Massachusetts 

Achieve Long Term Effectiveness – Build Professional Relationships 

Becoming a positive influence in someone’s life makes it easier to help them succeed, but you still have to find the 

professional balance – neither too personal nor too remote. This session gives you a way to strike that balance, and 

includes an 8-step method for effectively praising someone along the way. 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain the differences and advantages/disadvantages of 

vertical and lateral relationships; 2) Identify a variety of sincere and effective praise statements. CONTENT IS 

BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Mark Buck, Master Presenter, NAPPI International, Sheffield, Massachusetts 

ACT Team Policies & Practices for the Treatment of Consumers Who are 

Also Parents 

Consumers of ACT who are parents represent a special and over-looked population of consumers. Since little is 

known about parent consumers, I surveyed ACT providers during the 2010 ACTA conference to determine the 

prevalence of parent consumers, as well as current team policies and practices for treating parent consumers. I 

also interviewed parent consumers to identify unmet parent-related treatment needs and suggestions for improved 

treatment services. Results from the surveys and interviews will be presented. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the estimated prevalence of parent consumers 

by ACT; 2) Describe current ACT team policies and practices for treating parent consumers, as reported by 

76 ACT teams across the United States and Canada; 3) Describe the perspective of parent consumers of ACT, 

regarding parent-related treatment needs and ways to potentially improve ACT services for parents. CONTENT IS 

SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS, BUT BEST SUITED FOR ADVANCED DIRECT SERVICE 

PROVIDERS; 70% DIDACTIC, AND 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Michelle Salyers, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Co-Director, ACT Center of 

Indiana; Laura White, MS, Research Associate, ACT Center of Indiana, PhD Graduate Student, both of Indiana 

University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Overcoming Learned Helplessness Through Positive Psychology 

The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto was established in 1999. Currently, 

we have about 109 patients, around 30% patients are difficult to engage and often refuse our medical treatments. In this 

workshop, we want to share with you how we try to engage those patients with a deep understanding of their inner 

world, group approach, and intensive support during their hospitalization or incarceration. We’ll share our success and 

challenging experiences. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe three methods to engage hard to reach clients; 2) 

Explain at least three techniques to engage hard to reach clients; 3) Develop at least one tip for their hard to reach 

clients. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC, AND 30% 

PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Wendy Chow, MSW, RSW, Program Manager, Mount Sinai Hospital ACT Team & Mental Health 

Court Support Program, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 


8 

9 

10 

11 


Exploring Identity: Approaches to Enhance Strengths & Resilience 

Note: While workshops 8, 44, 52 & 62 can be stand-alone trainings, the presenters 

have designed them as a “track” of four workshops. Our identity is the essence of who we are, 

our values, strengths and resilience. Individuals receiving services from, and living in, our power-over-people 

culture have their identity spoiled. This workshop explores working with identity, personal strengths, values and 

resilience. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the effect of self-stigma and a spoiled identity 

on an individual’s hope, connections, harm and effectiveness of making choices; 2) Identify the areas of a person’s 

identity, including resilience, values, strengths, identity and their story; 3) Use the guided conversations and tools to 

individuals choosing to change and strengthen their identity. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS 

AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 25% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters:Annette M. Cañeda, EdD, Director of Organizational Learning, Telecare Corporation, Alameda, 

California; Marcelo Cavalheiro, MA, LMFT, Programs Administrator, Telecare Corporation, Older Adults & 

Adults Telecare Los Angeles Services, Los Angeles & Long Beach, California; Scott Madover, PhD, MINT Trainer, 

Administrator, Telecare Changes, Oakland, California 

FACT or Collaborative Court Program Approach in Mental Health Courts 

With the implementation of the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) programs in 2005 Orange County 

Behavioral Health Services has been able to incorporate ACT into two of the Mental Health Court Programs. The 

county has also worked for several years in the Collaborative Court Model with Mental Health Courts. We will 

discuss how these approaches currently work together. We also hope to share the similarities and differences between 

these approaches and more traditional FACT teams. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify key principles of the Collaborative Court Programs; 

2) Identify the similarities and differences between FACT and the Collaborative Court Model; 3) Discuss the rational 

of moving toward more fidelity with the ACT/FACT model. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS 

AT ALL LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC, & 40% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Andrew Inglis, MD, PACT Psychiatrist; Ian Kemmer, MA, MFT, Service Chief II, County of Orange 

Behavioral Health Services; Annette Mugrditchian, LCSW, MSW, Division Manager II, all of Orange County 

Health Care Agency, Santa Ana, California 

ACT Team Evolution: Identifying Team Effectiveness 

Is the team’s current performance as good as it could be? What could be changed to improve things and why would 

this help consumers? This didactic and experiential workshop will provide an opportunity for team leaders and 

those supervising ACT teams, to assess current team stage, identify one’s context for change, and use innovative 

ACT team assessment tools to achieve productive, well functioning teams. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Utilize a “Team Functioning Scale” for positive change; 2) 

Describe a “Team Wellness Recovery Action Plan”; 3) Impact team effectiveness and role clarity. CONTENT IS 

BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVELS; 40% DIDACTIC, 

20% PARTICIPATORY, & 40 % EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: JoAnne L. Davis, ACSW, LSW, ACT Consultant, Associate Executive Director-Mobile Services; Angela 

C. DiCarne, MAC, Lead Clinician ACT Team, both of Lenape Valley Foundation, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 

Trauma-Informed Care ACT Model; How We Can Make a Difference 

This workshop will focus on ACT consumers that have been traumatized. It will address the needs for assessment, 

understanding, care, and developing a healing relationship within the framework of trauma-informed care. This will 

be in an effort to reduce recurrent hospitalizations related to trauma-induced decompensation. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Incorporate trauma-informed care successfully within the ACT 

model; 2) Utilize existing evidence-based treatments to address trauma needs of the population we serve; 3) Interpret 

how the healing relationship will expand beyond one therapist to an ACT team. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC, 10% PARTICIPATORY and 20% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Paul Kowal, MA, Team Leader; Rebecca Roma, MD, Psychiatrist; Jessica Zembower, MSW, CTT 

Therapist Case Manager, all of Mercy Behavioral Health Community Treatment Team, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 


12 

13 

14 

14 

Wednesday Evening • May 16, 2012 

5:00 - 6:30 PM Concurrent Workshops 12 through 21 

ACT Progressive Treatment Program (PTP) – A Court Ordered Treatment 

Option 

The State of Maine passed legislation in 2007 that created the PTP which permits people, who meet specific 

eligibility criteria, to be court committed to an ACT Program. We will provide information on this innovative 

program, its evolution over the past four years and the PTP experience of clients, staff and other providers. 

There will be an opportunity for discussion on the blending of mandated and client-directed approaches within a 

traditional, value based ACT model. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the eligibility criteria and key components of 

the Progressive Treatment Program; 2) Identify the characteristics of ACT clients who achieve stability through 

PTP; 3) Examine the opportunities and tensions inherent in blending mandated and client-directed approaches to 

treatment within the ACT model. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE ADVANCED 

LEVEL; 60% DIDACTIC, AND 40% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: John Jaksa, MSW, LCSW, CCS, ACT Team Supervisor; Mary Ellen Quinn, BS, LSW, ACT Program 

Manager, both of Community Health & Counseling Services, Bangor, Maine 

Trauma-Informed Care ACT Services: Supporting Consumers & Staff 

This workshop will introduce participants to Trauma-Informed ACT Services and a related self-assessment and 

planning protocol/tool. Creating Cultures of Trauma-Informed Care (CCTIC), the organizational culture change 

approach developed at Community Connections, is built on five core values: Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, 

Collaboration, and Empowerment. ACT Services can become trauma-informed by thoroughly incorporating, in 

all aspects of service delivery, an understanding of the prevalence and impact of trauma and the complex paths to 

healing and recovery. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Define the evidence based practice domains of a traumainformed 

system of care including: Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment; 2) Explain 

the difference between Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Specific Services; 3) Identify strategies for ACT staff 

development using Trauma-Informed principles. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 35% DIDACTIC AND 65% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Sam Bauman, PhD, LPC, Director, ACT Services, Associate Director, Community Connections, 

Washington, District of Columbia 

Assertive Community Treatment for the Elderly 

A special ACT team for the elderly was developed in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and tested for its effectiveness 

in a randomized controlled trial. The team and the study aims will be described, and in a movie one of its clients 

was followed. After the movie there’s room for discussion and following a short break the first results of the study 

shall then be presented and discussed with 

the attendees. 

By the end of the session, participants 

will be able to: 1) Describe the difference 

between ACT for adults and ACT for the 

elderly; 2) Interpret the research outcomes. 

CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% 

DIDACTIC, 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Jolanda Stobbe, MScN, PhD 

Candidate, Research Centre O3, Erasmus 

University Medical Center, Department of 

Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 


15 

16 

17 

18 


Working with the South-East Asian Population 

The people from South-East Asia, specifically, the countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, present a unique 

set of circumstances. It is fairly safe to assume that any person born prior to 1980, in the above locations has war 

related PTSD. These distinctly different nations have seen the horror of genocide, and wars that spanned almost 

fifty years. Therefore, any treatment of Mental Health issues must include trauma-related methods and cultural 

sensitivities. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) explain four culturally sensitive methods of dealing with 

the target population; 2) Describe three trauma-based approaches suited for the target group. CONTENT IS BEST 

SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, AND 


Presenters: Justine L. Caton, MA, LMHC, Clinical Coordinator, Lowell CAR Team 1; Rosalind M. Magill, 

MEd, LMHC, Substance Abuse Coordinator, Lowell CAR Team 2; Savannah Phim, BA, Community Integration 

Coordinator, Lowell CAR Team 1, all of Vinfen Corporation, Lowell, Massachusetts 

Making Connections in Challenging Areas & Staying Safe 

Hope Network/New Passages operates an ACT program in Flint Michigan, a city with one of the highest violent 

crime rates in the country. This team has been recognized for their innovative and successful strategies in achieving 

safe and effective outreach. This presentation will provide participants with strategies for successfully connecting 

with consumers in the community while building community and natural supports and maintaining safety in very 

challenging neighborhoods. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) List three strategies for connecting with consumers who are 

normally difficult to locate; 2) Devise three strategies for increasing community and natural supports for consumers 

in their own community; 3) Articulate three strategies for assessing a potentially dangerous situation in their service 

area; 4) Develop three strategies for maintaining safety during their own delivery of service. CONTENT IS BEST 

SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, AND 50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Jean Nemenzik, LMSW, Director of Clinical Services; Eric Spaulding, BS, LBSW, ACT Assistant Team 

Leader; Kathy Staugaeno, MS, LLP, CAADC, ACT Team Leader, all of Hope Network/New Passages, Flint, Michigan 

Communications Technologies in an Appalachian ACT Program 

The integration of rapidly changing communication and information technologies by ACT teams in rural areas 

presents unique challenges. The presentation will discuss the use of phone communication, text messaging, email, 

social media and electronic health records in a rural Appalachian ACT setting. Special emphasis will be placed on the 

importance of clarity and consensus between team and agency and consumers regarding the appropriate use of these 

different modalities in the clinical care setting. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the challenges posed by the introduction of different 

technologies in a rural area; 2) Examine the ethical issues posed by the use of new communication technologies in 

ACT programs; 3) Discuss strategies to maximize the effective use of communications technologies including costs, 

training, and impact on service delivery in rural areas. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, AND 25% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: M. Anthony Graham, MD, ACT Psychiatrist; April Simms, MSW, LCSW, PACT Team Leader, both of 

Mt. Rogers Community Services Board, Wytheville, Virginia 

A Comparative Overview of Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotics 

A comparative overview of all available long acting injectable antipsychotic preparations as it relates to differences in: 

formulation, pharmacokinetic parameters, initiating and switching treatment, dosing and dosing intervals, and potential 

side-effect monitoring will be presented. Patient characteristics such as diagnosis and potential risks of non-adherence 

such as relapse and suicide will be discussed. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe potential consequences of non-adherence to antipsychotic 

treatment and patient characteristics; 2) Compare the differences in long acting injectable antipsychotic preparations as 

it relates to proper initiation, dosing adjustments, and ongoing maintenance therapy; 3) Evaluate clinical management 

for patients receiving long acting antipsychotic therapy. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, 15% PARTICIPATORY, AND 10% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Dean Najarian, PharmD, BCPP, Scientific Affairs Liaison, CNS, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, 

Wrentham, Massachusetts 


19 

20 

21 

16 


Family Peer Support 

Integrating families into ACT teams promotes skill development needed to provide healthy support for a family 

member living with mental illness and addictions. This interactive session will ACT to provide the tips needed to 

implement a co-operative peer support setting for clients and their families to build family strength despite mental 

illness and addictions. The program concentrates on having measurable results that model healthy relationships and 

clients taking charge of their own health and wellness. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain 3 key elements to a successful peer support 

setting; 2) Identify 5 skill sets needed to provide healthy support for an ill family member; 3) Design a program for 

the family system to take charge of their own situation. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT 

ALL LEVELS; 20% DIDACTIC, 70% PARTICIPATORY, AND 10 % EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Mona Cooley, Coach U Graduate, Peer & Family Support Specialist, The Alex – Pathways to Housing & 

CMHA, Calgary and Missing Children Society of Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 

The Team Leader & Psychiatrist’s Relationship on an ACT Team: Two 

Views, One Vision 

This presentation will discuss the significance of the relationship of the Team Leader and Psychiatrist on a team, 

including the importance of collaboration, role modeling, team cohesion, and dialogue over debate. The presenters 

will discuss their own working relationship, which spans nearly 10 years, and more importantly, the lessons related 

to the impact this relationship has had on team cohesion and clinical effectiveness for the consumers, both in positive 

and possibly negative ways. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain the role of the Team Leader and Psychiatrist as lead 

clinicians and role models for team cohesion and therapeutic treatment; 2) Examine the positive and possibly negative 

ways in which the Team Leader/ Psychiatrist relationship can impact the effectiveness of the ACT team. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 80% DIDACTIC, AND 20% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Chris Blough, MS, LPC, ACT Team Leader; Holly Karalus, LSW, MS, Director of ABH Services; Lou 

Picchio, MD, MA, ACT Psychiatrist, all of NHS of Capitol Region, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

Using DBT with ACT Consumer to “Create a Life Worth Living” 

This workshop will discuss the integration of two Evidenced Based Practices, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and 

ACT, to help consumers diagnosed with personality disorders, trauma, and/or overwhelming emotions. Individual 

and Group Approaches to Skills Training will be discussed, as well as how to educate your team about DBT 

principles to provide consistent therapeutic support, prevent crises, impact treatment interfering behaviors, and 

reduce staff burnout. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the four skill areas of DBT; 

2) Identify 3 ways DBT can reduce treatment interfering behavior, self-injurious behaviors, and crisis situations; 3) 

Examine at least 3 resources for education and implementation of DBT in an ACT program. CONTENT IS BEST 

SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 60% DIDACTIC, 20% PARTICIPATORY AND 


Presenters: Raymond McManamon, MA, LPC, ACT Director/Team Leader; Deena Rudolph, MSN, RN, ACT 

Psychiatric Nurse, both of Lenape Valley Foundation, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 

5:00 - 5:45 PM Assertive Community Treatment Association Annual Meeting 

The Assertive Community Treatment Association (ACTA) promotes, develops, and supports high quality assertive 

community treatment services that improve the lives of people with serious and persistent mental illness. ACTA 

is incorporated as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. The Board conducts its annual public 

meeting and elections each year at the conference. A public report of the organization’s activities is given and plans for 

the upcoming year are discussed. Conference attendees are encouraged to attend and participate; only dues-paid ACT 

Association members may vote. 

Steve Harrington, MPA, JD, Founder, National Association of Peer Specialists, Owner, Recovery Resources, Postdoctoral 

Fellow, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Board President, ACT Association, Revere, 

Massachusetts 


7:30 - 8:30 AM Breakfast 


7:30 - 11:30 AM & 1:00 - 5:00 PM Check-in/Information Desk Open 

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Book Sales and Exhibits 

8:30 AM - Noon Concurrent Institutes A through C 

A 

B 

C 

Thursday Morning • May 17, 2012 

Integrating Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing Skills into 

Recovery Planning 

This institute will teach Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills that can be used within the five Stages of Change. I 

will teach a brief overview of the Stages of Change and then we will look at specific MI interventions within each 

Stage of Change. I will then focus on recovery planning using the Stages of Change and for action steps specific 

MI interventions which can be used with your members. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain the basic tenants of Stages of Change; 2) Identify 

which motivational interviewing skill goes with which each stage of change; 3) Use the Stages of Change and MI 

skills (action steps) in member’s recovery planning. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN 

ADVANCED LEVEL; 50% DIDACTIC, 30% PARTICIPATORY, AND 20% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Scott Madover, PhD, MINT Trainer, Administrator, Telecare Changes, Oakland, California 

TMACT: A Technical Assistance Tool for Quality Improvement 

This session provides hands-on training in the Tool for Measurement of Assertive Community Treatment 

(TMACT) for conducting fidelity evaluations and guiding technical assistance. The presenters will provide: 1) An 

overview of the TMACT, 2) Case scenarios with audience participation in generating TMACT item ratings and 

recommendations, and 3) Tools for training ACT staff in conducting fidelity evaluations of other ACT teams using 

the TMACT (i.e., professional peer evaluation). 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the type of data collected during a TMACT 

evaluation and how those data are used to make ratings and guide qualitative feedback; 2) Distinguish between high 

and low fidelity ACT teams by comparing two case examples, as evaluated with the TMACT; 3) State the benefits 

and challenges of implementing a professional peer evaluation process. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT THE ALL LEVELS; 25% DIDACTIC, 50% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Clinical Psychology, Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington 

State, Assistant Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Lorna Moser, PhD, Clinical Psychology, 

Research Associate, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, 

North Carolina; Gregory B. Teague, Associate Professor, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, 

College of Behavioral and Community Services, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 

Flexible ACT (FACT) in the Netherlands: Practice & Evidence 

Flexible ACT (FACT) initiated a transition towards community based care of severe mental illness in The 

Netherlands. FACT is derived from the ACT model but with some adaptations. FACT supports the recovery process 

within the community by strengths-based case management, the implementation of evidence-based practices and 

close collaboration with the clinical wards. Patients are very well retained (drop-out rate < 2%). 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe psychological interventions used by Dutch 

FACT Teams; 2) Examine the FACT Teams’ collaboration with the acute ward. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC, AND 40% 


Presenters: Michel Bähler, MSc, Advisor, Innovation of Care, Psychologist, Advisor for the Centre for Certification 

of ACT and FACT in the Netherlands, expert on recovery oriented care for nationwide project on recovery; Janneke 

Ferwerda, MSc Psychology, Psychologist in FACT team GGZ NHN; Marieke van de Ven Dijkman, MSc Psychiatry, 

Psychiatrist in FACT team GGZ NHN, all of the GGZ Noord Holland Noord, Heiloo, Netherlands 


18 


8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Concurrent Workshops 22 through 29 

22 

23 

24 

25 

Facilitating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan – WRAP 

Mary Ellen Copeland’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is one of the most important Best Practices in the 

field of Behavioral Health today. The WRAP plan is a wonderful way of empowering consumers by engaging them 

in the development and maintenance of daily living skills, healthy behaviors and crisis management. This institute 

will review how to use the plan effectively and efficiently. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe how WRAP promotes higher levels of wellness 

and stability; 2) Describe the application of WRAP; 3) Design an actual WRAP plan. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 20% DIDACTIC, 40% PARTICIPATORY, AND 40% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Gary Clark, MSW, LCSW, ACT Coordinator, Community Based Care Coordination & Treatment 

Services, State of New York, Office of Mental Health; Pascale Jean-Noel, LMSW, Director of Training, ACT 

Institute, Center for Practice & Innovations, New York Psychiatric Institute; Luis O. Lopez, MS, HSBCP, Director 

of Best Practices, Services for the Underserved, all of New York, New York 

Treating Schizophrenia after Release from Incarceration 

The session will focus on the overrepresentation of the seriously mentally ill within the Criminal Justice System 

and the challenges to sustaining reentry into the community after release from incarceration. Challenges include 

continuity of care, treatment adherence and barriers to obtaining essential healthcare, services and resources. An 

ongoing comparative effectiveness research trial will provide an example of methods for studying alternative 

treatments for people with schizophrenia in the setting of this public health problem. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Examine the high prevalence of people with serious mental 

illness within the criminal justice system; 2) Describe current challenges to sustainable reentry into the community 

for people with schizophrenia after release from incarceration; 3) Discuss the ongoing effectiveness research study 

as it relates to current practice in the community. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, 15% PARTICIPATORY, AND 10% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Dean Najarian, PharmD, BCPP, Scientific Affairs Liaison, CNS, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, 

Wrentham, Massachusetts 

Are You A Good Leader? 

Teamwork has a dramatic effect on performance. An effective team can achieve incredible results. A team that is 

not working well can cause failed delivery, low morale and strategic failure. Simply having the responsibilities of 

a leader does not necessarily make an effective leader. This workshop will bridge and build upon the identification 

of ACT team’s challenges, by assessing and maximizing leadership skills. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Analyze performance in specific areas of leadership; 2) 

Develop key leadership competencies to immediately impact teamwork; 3) Identify and enhance the two most 

critical leadership traits. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT INTERMEDIATE AND 

ADVANCED LEVELS; 40% DIDACTIC, 20% PARTICIPATORY, AND 40% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: JoAnne L. Davis, ACSW, LSW, ACT Consultant, Associate Executive Director-Mobile Services; Angela 

C. DiCarne, MAC, Lead Clinician ACT Team, both of Lenape Valley Foundation, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 

Task Analysis for Less Restrictive Housing 

Team members will review various activities of daily living necessary for the move to less restrictive housing. 

Activities will be broken down into rudimentary tasks and attendees will be educated on how to assist consumers 

in developing independence. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify drawbacks to consumer success; 2) List tasks 

necessary for independence and explain the skills necessary for task completion; 3) Describe task analysis in the 

field with the consumers they serve. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 30% 

DIDACTIC, 30% PARTICIPATORY, AND 40% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Devon Horton, MOTR/L, BS, Occupational Therapist, NHS Human Services; Karen M. Schen, MS, 

OTR/L, CTT Occupational Therapist, Mercy Behavioral Health, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 


26 

27 

28 

29 


Supporting Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities 

In many states even today parents with psychiatric disabilities may lose custody of their children merely because 

they have a psychiatric diagnosis. The trauma of having children removed or the loss of custody impacts all aspects 

of the individual’s life. This workshop will present strategies that practitioners can use to better assist and support 

individuals in this area. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) List three of the challenges parents with psychiatric 

disabilities face (both internally and externally); 2) Name the five Core Components of a trauma-informed 

approach to address these challenges and obstacles; 3) Describe two strategies that service providers can use 

to support parents with psychiatric disabilities to retain or regain custody. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 85% DIDACTIC, AND 15% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Neil Harbus, MSW, LCSW, CPRP, Program Director, Peer Wellness Program, Pathways to Housing, 

New York, New York 

Maintaining Healthy Boundaries – A Clinical Guideline 

The Orange County Behavioral Health Services has transformed our system of care by moving our service 

philosophy to the Recovery Model. With the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding we have integrated the 

services provided by people with lived experience to many programs in all levels of care, including PACT programs. 

This workshop addresses the issues of client-centered care where the peer paraprofessional is an essential part of 

the whole treatment team. We hope to share our experience of success and barriers in implementing a recovery 

oriented ACT program. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify key principles of the Recovery Model; 2) Identify 

the training design for our peer paraprofessionals; 3) Discuss the issues related to boundary within an integrated 

treatment team. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC AND 


Presenters: Clayton Chau, MD, PhD, Associate Medical Director, Orange County Health Care, Assistant Clinical 

Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California; Jenny Hudson, MSW, 

LCSW, Program Manager for Adult & Older Adult Services, Orange County Health Care, both of Santa Ana, California 

High-Fidelity Person-Centered Planning in a Multi-ACT Team System 

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania monitors fidelity to ACT for nine teams using the TMACT. High-fidelity personcentered 

planning was identified as a key improvement area for all nine teams. ACT providers progressed through 

an improvement process that included intensive training, the establishment of policies and procedures, the creation 

of a curriculum, and a plan for supervision and quality assurance. The methodology to standardize fidelity across 

teams and its impact on fidelity scores will be presented. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Develop strategies to improve high-fidelity personcentered 

planning on ACT teams; 2) Describe plans to achieve and standardize high-fidelity person-centered 

planning across multiple teams. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN INTERMEDIATE 

LEVEL; 75% DIDACTIC AND 25% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Deborah Duch, MPH, Program Manager, Community Care Behavioral Health; Regina Janov, BA, 

Program Operations Manager, Allegheny County, Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health; 

Kim Patterson, MSW, LSW, Manager of Clinical Consultation, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc., all of Pittsburgh, 

Pennsylvania 

Lean Production: Improving Process and Outcomes in ACT! 

Toyota’s manufacturing philosophy of lean production helped them catapult into the company they are today. 

These proven concepts have been adapted into the healthcare industry to eliminate waste, increase efficiency 

and improve patient care and are now introduced in an ACT program to allow for problem solving and process 

improvement. This engaging workshop will introduce an overview of the lean concepts and participants will 

practice them through interactive activities. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify work redesign principles to improve performance; 

2) Demonstrate how to engage staff to solve problems at the point of care; 3) Describe a system for continuous 

process improvement for consumer service. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 50% PARTICIPATORY 

Presenters: Mimi Falbo, BSN, MSN, DNP, Founder and CEO, Mimi Falbo LLC, Carnegie Mellon University; Christine 

Gregor, MSW, LSW, CCDP, CTT Component Director, Mercy Behavioral Health; Shaun Kostiuk, BS, CTT Office 

Manager, Mercy Behavioral Health, all of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 


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10:00 - 10:30 AM Institute and Workshops Beverage Break 

10:30 - 12:00 Noon Concurrent Workshops 30 through 37 

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Paying Attention to Voices 

Many people who receive ACT services experience auditory hallucinations, “voices”. What do we really know 

about this pervasive symptom? This workshop focuses on the phenomenological experience of hallucinations 

(frequency, intensity and content) and methods to reliably assess these variables. The neuropsychological and 

neurophysiologic mechanisms implicated in the experience of “voices” will be presented. Methods of coping with 

this symptom (and ways to evaluate the effectiveness of coping strategies) will be presented. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the nature, content and frequency of “voices” 

in clinical populations; 2) Describe a model of the neuropsychology of hallucinatory behavior; 3) Discuss coping 

skills for “voices”. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, 

35% PARTICIPATORY, AND 5% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Paul Borish, MA, LPC, CAADC, Team Leader, TRHMC ACT Team; Kevin Riley, PhD, Psychologist, 

both of the Department of Psychiatry, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Reading, Pennsylvania 

Safety-Proof Yourself! Safety Practices for Community Visits 

Do you travel through unsafe neighborhoods? Visit challenging or difficult people? Is your presence unwelcome? 

Do you receive threats? Don’t let circumstances make you feel like a victim! These easy to use and remember 

assessment and prevention skills will help you stay safer when working in dangerous neighborhoods. This 

presentation includes five S.M.A.R.T. Principles, the Lalemand Behavior Scale, and Surviving the Dangerous 

Visit. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain five ways to stay safer in any situation; 2) define 

five levels of dangerous behavior; 3) Identify at least ten steps for improving personal safety before and during a 

potentially dangerous community visit. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 

50% DIDACTIC AND 50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Mark Buck, Master Presenter, NAPPI International, Sheffield, Massachusetts 

Measuring Readiness for a Successful Transition 

The ACT Wellness Recovery Scale (WRS) and Medication Tier System (MTS) scales were designed and 

implemented 3 years ago with the purpose of measuring a client’s progress from initial engagement to transitionreadiness, 

using a recovery approach. MTS measures levels of independence of medication management, including 

corresponding levels of monitoring by ACT. WRS incorporates multiple aspects of recovery, including reflecting 

the MTS. The scales provide the team and clients with a structured system to monitor progress while promote 

recovery and safe transitions from ACT. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Discuss the two scales and describe reliability and validity; 

2) Examine the clinical outcomes since introducing the scales; 3) Identify factors that promote a successful 

transition. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC AND 40% 


Presenters: David Lindy, MD, Chief Psychiatrist; MacDara O’Sullivan, LCSW, Team Leader; Caroline Williams, 

MD, ACT Team Psychiatrist, all of Visiting Nurse Services of New York, New York 

Providing Apartment Living for Transition Age Youth 

The presenters will share their unique experience in establishing a six-unit apartment in a city for transition age 

youth. Discussion will include the role of the house manager, house rules, weekly house meetings, safety issues, 

consumer selection, and the consumer involvement in treatment. We will also address the overwhelming need for 

housing for this age, the pitfalls and the achievements. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Evaluate the benefits of providing housing for transition 

age youth; 2) Evaluate the challenge of providing housing for transition age youth. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 50% DIDACTIC, 25% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% 

EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Clarita Mason, Certified Peer Specialist; Daniel Roth, BA, ACT Community Liaison, both of Berks 

Counseling Center, Reading, Pennsylvania 


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The Art of Recovery 

Encouraging consumers to attend groups can be a difficult task. The FACT team from Seattle created some new 

and innovative groups to help consumers engage in treatment. These groups offer a different spin on traditional 

treatment and new approaches to evidence based practices. Learn about these groups including: Hip-Hope, Nails 

not Jail, Think! Feel! Do!, and the First Annual Genius Art Show. See examples of the groups and learn how to 

implement them. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) State three concepts for creative ACT groups; 2) 

Identify new group ideas specific to your own programs; 3) Describe methods for showcasing consumers’ 

artwork. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC AND 25% 


Presenters: Michael Buchert, MPS, ATR-BC, MHP, CDPT, FACT Program Coordinator; Richelle Nordeen, 

MA, LMHC, CDPT, Department Manager, Integrated Services, both of Sound Mental Health, Seattle, Washington 

Empowering ACT Members Through a Mobile Communication Tool 

This workshop will discuss an ongoing effort in Western Pennsylvania to expand the use of Dr. Pat Deegan’s 

CommonGround software beyond clinic-based centers to reach high-risk ACT members who otherwise may not 

have access to this consumer-practitioner communication tool. Specifically, we will discuss (1) the importance of 

shared decision making; (2) participation of staff in training and ongoing support; (3) the role of peer support in 

implementation; (4) delivery and use via mobile technology. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Design a leadership, training, and support plan for 

implementation of best practices; 2) Describe tools and methods used to evaluate best practices; 3) Describe the 

extent to which use of CommonGround via mobile technology will enhance ACT member treatment and shared 

decision making. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 40% DIDACTIC, 

30% PARTICIPATORY AND 30% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Shari Hutchison, MS, Manager of Special Projects; Nancy Parrotta, MA, LPC, NCC, Special 

Projects Manager, both of the Community Care Behavioral Health Organization; Kimberly Sonafelt, MS, LPC, 

CADC, Director, NHS Human Services, all of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Minnesota ACT Teams Get Assertive to Decrease Mortality 

Integrating general medical care with mental health care is an emerging hot topic and ACT teams can be leaders 

in this effort. We will describe interventions to improve physical health, our ACT team’s participation in the 

Minnesota 10 x 10 initiative, and the potential for ACT teams to be medical homes. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify key elements of medical homes; 2) Examine 

why the ACT model of care provides an ideal framework for medical homes; 3) Discuss strategies for improving 

enhanced integration of medical care within the ACT service delivery system. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC AND 25% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Tracy Hinz, MSW, LICSW, ACT Team Leader; Walter Rush, MD, ACT Psychiatrist, both of the Central 

Minnesota Mental Health Center, Monticello, Minnesota; Helen Wood, MD, ACT Psychiatrist, South Metro Human 

Services ACT and Outpatient Clinic, St. Paul, Minnesota 

Community Medication Management in ACT 

This workshop reviews a real 3 year struggle to keep the medication management program within the Ann Arbor 

VA MHICM clinic. This case reviews how to work through complicated DEA regulations and logistics while 

serving the needs of Veterans. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify methods for maintaining medication programs 

in the community; 2) Identify a safe, effective way of running a medication management program utilizing 

nursing and social work staff; 3) Discuss how to design and maintain community medication management 

programs. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS 65% DIDACTIC AND 35% 


Presenters: Walter F. Jarvis III, RN, MHICM Nurse; Kimberly Patterson, LMSW, ACSW, MHICM Program 

Director, both of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 


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Thursday Afternoon • May 17, 2012 

Noon - 1:15 PM Luncheon 


1:30 - 5:00 PM Institutes D - F 

D 

E 

F 

Reducing Staff Turnover and Burnout: Tips for Team Leaders 

Staff turnover and burnout are serious problems for mental health programs across the nation, including for many 

ACT teams. This workshop will describe nine principles and eighteen corresponding low-cost actions that ACT 

team leaders and managers (and other staff taking a leadership role) can use to reduce staff turnover and burnout 

while also improving employee satisfaction. Participants will also develop a core set of simple skills to prevent 

their own personal burnout. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe four or more principles for reducing turnout 

and burnout; 2) Describe four or more actions that team leaders and managers can employ to reduce burnout and 

turnover; 3) Demonstrate and use three or more simple skills to manage stress and reduce burnout. CONTENT IS 

BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE ALL LEVELS; 35% DIDACTIC, 30% PARTICIPATORY, AND 


Presenters: Gary Morse, PhD, Associate Executive Director, Places for People, St. Louis, Missouri; Angela 

Rollins, PhD, Research Health Scientist, Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence Based Practices, 

Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, Assistant Research Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 

Department of Psychology, Research Director, ACT Center for Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana; Michelle Salyers, 

PhD, Clinical Psychology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Indiana University-Purdue University 

Indianapolis, Co-Director, ACT Center for Indiana, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana 

Creating Recovery-Centered Service Plans and Progress Notes 

Creating recovery-oriented documentation is a universal challenge for service providers who must work within a 

deficit-oriented reimbursement system. This workshop is designed for staff that document direct services and want 

to improve the quality of their documentation in support of recovery. A unique approach to documentation and 

language as an application of the recovery philosophy will be explored. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the connection between language and recovery; 2) 

Identify the standards of quality of writing as they pertain to clinical documentation; 3) Integrate a documentation 

process based on good writing into client care services. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT 

THE INTERMDIATE LEVEL; 50% DIDACTIC, 25% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Annette M. Cañeda, EdD, Director of Organizational Learning, Telecare Corporation, Alameda, 

California 

Shortcut to Starting a DBT Skills Group in an ACT Program 

Intrigued by the potential of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), but intimidated by the variety and unfamiliarity 

of the skills? This workshop provides a brief introduction to the hows and whys of starting a DBT skills group in 

Assertive Community Treatment, demonstrates the expertise necessary to do so, with special emphasis on Core 

Mindfulness and Radical Acceptance techniques. 

By the end of the session participants will be able to: 1) Explain the concepts of DBT Core Mindfulness, Emotional 

Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness skills to ACT consumers using the DBT Skills 

Training Manual; 2) Structure DBT Skills Training Groups in ACT programs. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED LEVELS; 20% DIDACTIC, 20% 

PARTICIPATORY, AND 60% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Emmalee Agostini, ACT Team Mental Health Professional; Jennifer Pasternack, MD, PhD, ACT 

Team Psychiatrist, both of Stairways Behavioral Health, Erie, Pennsylvania 


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Resolving Ambivalence and Reducing Resistance 

Participants will learn to develop discrepancy that will lead to resolving ambivalence and also learn to enhance 

individuals’ motivation to change. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Demonstrate skills, strategies and techniques to resolve 

ambivalence and reduce resistance; 2) Identify the strength of an individual’s motivation to change. CONTENT IS 

BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 25% DIDACTIC, 25% PARTICIPATORY, AND 50% 

EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Frances Yokley, LMSW, CAADC, Program Manager, Community Network Services, Inc., Waterford, 

Michigan 

Verbal Threat Assessment – Is it real? How do you know? 

Have you ever been threatened at work? Did you wonder if it was a credible threat – and what to do about it? This 

interactive session gives you a framework for quickly deciphering the dangerousness of a threat, and recommends 

specific steps to reduce the likelihood of the threat being carried out. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) List the most common profile of a serial threatener; 2) 

Explain how the language of a threat and the logic of the situation make it more or less serious; 3) Explain how 

the relationship between the threatener and the threatened alters the meaning of the threat. CONTENT IS BEST 

SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC AND 40% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Mark Buck, Master Trainer, NAPPI International, Sheffield, Massachusetts 

Training and Quality Improvement for ACT Teams: What Works? 

Building the capacity of ACT teams to provide evidence-based practices within the ACT framework cannot 

be achieved with didactic trainings alone. Collaborative quality improvement efforts to identify problems and 

solutions and focus on in-the-field, ongoing support, increase the adoption and impact of trainings. Goal setting 

and continual monitoring help sustain momentum. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania will share their approach to 

ongoing training in supported employment and IDDT, and preliminary effects on fidelity scores and outcomes. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Develop training initiatives and supervision strategies 

to improve ACT; 2) Describe plans to monitor the impact of training on service provision and outcomes. 

CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY FOR 

TEAM LEADERS, SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS; 75% DIDACTIC AND 25% 


Presenters: Deborah Duch, MPH, Program Manager, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization; Kim 

Patterson, MSW, LSW, Manager of Clinical Consultation, Allegheny Health Choices, Inc.; Emily Heberlein, MS, 

Manager of Evaluation and Outcomes, Allegheny Health Choices, Inc., all of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

A Comparison of Three ACT Teams in Maine and New Zealand 

This workshop will discuss the structure and function of three ACT teams: 1) a traditional team that served 

clients between 1997 and 2009; 2) a team in New Zealand, adapted to the needs of a multidisciplinary clinic; 3) a 

new team designed to meet standards for ACT as established by Maine DHHS, which emphasizes recovery and 

intentional peer support. Teams are compared using the Dartmouth ACT fidelity standards. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the application of the Dartmouth Fidelity 

Standards in assessment of ACT team functioning; 2) Identify how different ACT programs can maintain fidelity; 

3) Examine the unique role of the peer support specialist and intentional peer support within ACT. CONTENT IS 


EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Julie Keller Pease, MD, DFAPA, Psychiatrist, Assertive Community Treatment Team and Adult 

Outpatient Medication Management; Alexander Veguilla, AA, CIPSS (Certified Intentional Peer Support 

Specialist), Peer Support Specialist, ACT Team, both of Sweetser, Brunswick, Maine 


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Healing From Within: The Role of Spirituality in Recovery 

Many practitioners are uncomfortable incorporating Spirituality in treatment, and many individuals have been 

discouraged from bringing it up at all. This workshop will attempt to show the place spirituality can have in 

treatment and recovery, and present a new curriculum to assist providers and recipients in exploring this topic 

further. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain the difference between spirituality and religion; 

2) Describe how spirituality can be incorporated into the Recovery process; 3) Discuss how incorporating religious 

experience, spirituality, and religious values into an individual’s treatment can have a positive effect. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 80% DIDACTIC AND 20% 


Presenter: Neil Harbus, MSW, LCSW, CPRP, Program Director, Peer Wellness Program, Pathways to Housing, 

New York, New York 

Mental Health Intensive Case Management: Use of Evidence Based 

Interventions 

Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) is a community-based service which addresses the concerns 

of veterans who have a diagnosis of severe persistent mental illness, extensive hospital use, and severe functional 

impairments that cannot be well addressed by standard outpatient treatment. This presentation will describe our 

patient population in terms of age, diagnosis, frequency of admissions, and length of stay. We will highlight our 

efforts to reduce recidivism through care coordination and employing EBP interventions. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Review the patient population and characteristics of those 

having frequent readmissions; 2) Identify at least three challenges to overcome in care coordination; 3) Evaluate 

the effectiveness of EBP interventions selected for use with MHICM clients. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE LEVELS; 80% DIDACTIC, AND 20% 


Presenters: Tosha Ellis, MSW, LCSW, Doctor of Public Health Candidate, MHICM Program Director; Jeanne 

Samter, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, both of the MHICM Program, Atlanta VA Medical 

Center, Decatur, Georgia 

Hope – The Fuel for an Individual’s Recovery Journal 

Note: While workshops 8, 44, 52 & 62 can be stand-alone trainings, the presenters have designed 

them as a “track” of four workshops. Hope provides a bridge to the future and fuel for the recovery journey. 

Many individuals living in, and receiving treatment from, our power-over-people culture have lost hope and have 

no dreams for their future. This workshop explores using guided conversations and tools to awaken hope that 

inspires a person to make effective choices for their recovery. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Apply the three guided conversation tools to awaken and 

strengthen hope; 2) Describe the effect that having hope has on resilience, identity, connections, harm and making 

effective choices; 3) Identify their own hopes and dreams for the future they desire. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 25% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% EXPERIENTIAL 

Presenters: David Heffron, BA, NHA, Vice President Operations, Telecare Corporation, Long Beach, California; 

Jennifer Obermeyer, LCSW, Administrator, Telecare ACT Oregon, Gresham, Oregon 

ACT Program Implementation and Team Start-Up 

This workshop will highlight the ‘essential ingredients’ of PACT and factors that contribute to providing services 

that are consistent with the model. Topics will include: common difficulties experienced by start-up teams and the 

importance of program fidelity in provision of services. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the essential ingredients for PACT and specific 

strategies for improving fidelity to the model; 2) List common difficulties in program implementation, particularly 

upon start-up. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 75% 

PRESENTATION AND 25% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Patricia Brouwer, MA, CAGS, Consultant to the Department of Mental Health, Brouwer Consulting, 

Johnston, Rhode Island 


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3:00 - 3:30 PM Institute and Workshops Beverage Break 


Stages of Change: Empower Employment Choices for ACT Clients 

Stages of Change Theory and Motivational Interviewing were developed as evidence-based practices for clients 

with Drug and Alcohol abuse and other patterns of resistance to change. This workshop applies the five stages of 

change to employment issues of ACT participants, particularly resistance and motivation. Practical strategies, 

such as “change talk” and other interventions to empower clients to move from one phase of employment 

change to another will be discussed. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the five stages of change and how they relate to 

employment; 2) Implement three specific interventions that will help ACT participants move forward regarding 

stage of change in employment. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 80% 

DIDACTIC AND 20% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Anthony Deleon, BS, Vocational Counselor, Berks Counseling Center, Transitional Age ACT Program; 

Christopher Sullivan, BS, Vocational Counselor, Department of Psychiatry, The Reading Hospital ACT Program, 

both of Reading, Pennsylvania 

Development of an Integrated Health Home in an ACT Program 

Adults with serious mental illness are vulnerable to chronic physical health conditions and have a dramatically 

shorter life span. Bringing mental and physical health services together, under a behavioral-health led umbrella, 

is a progressive response to this problem. This session will describe an Integrated Health Home (IHH) in an ACT 

Program. Presenters will describe the needs of the population, why integrating care is important, and the process 

of integrating IHH within the ACT Model. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify three specific health challenges of adults with 

serious mental illness (SMI); 2) Describe five essential components of an Integrated Health Home within an 

ACT Program; 3) Obtain three practical tips for engaging clients in making healthy lifestyle changes. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC, 30% PARTICIPATORY, 10% 

EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Mindy Blair, MHR, CADC, ACT Team Leader; Jill Koch, LPN, Integrated Health Home Nurse, 

both of Heartland Family Service, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Sherry Parish, RN, BSHCS, Integrated Care Nurse 

Coordinator, Magellan Health Services, Des Moines, Iowa 

“Spark in the DARK” 

Dual-diagnosed people may often live in a dark and complex world. This seminar will explore the history, 

formation, and continuation of a successful ACT/IDDT group. We have explored the resources and options which 

have strengthened this group. A unique partnership with the UMD School of Pharmacology and ACT/IDDT 

resulted in the development of new interventions with those who have a dual diagnosis. Research questions will be 

reviewed about the group’s growth, interactive learning and the impact on everyday living. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify three unique/enjoyable learning approaches 

toward interactive IDDT education; 2) Explain Recovery-Oriented Treatment applied from Dartmouth Psychiatric 

Center (2010. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE 

LEVELS; 60% DIDACTIC, 20% PARTICIPATORY AND 20% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Cyrene Baskett, MS, BSN, BSW, Chemical Dependency Educator, Case Manager, Center for Alcohol 

and Drug Treatment; Christa Overson, MS, Case Manager, Human Development Center; Faye Beth Pingry, MSW, 

ADCR, ACT Case Manager, St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services; Mark Schneiderhan, PharmD, 

BCPP, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy-Duluth, all of Duluth, Minnesota 


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Integration of Treatment and Learning in Working with Adolescents 

In 2004, a high-school in the Hague, Netherlands was devastated by a severe shooting incident in which a teacher 

was killed by a pupil. The pupil was an adolescent at the school who had been diagnosed with severe mental 

health problems and had dropped out on several life areas. In this workshop we will discuss an integrative 

approach we developed for working with adolescents (age 12-18) with multiple problems and mental health 

issues. Utilizing an assertive multidisciplinary mental health care approach (a Flexible ACT Team – FACT) 

situated in the school itself and in close cooperation with the high-school allowed for a very successful project 

with good outcomes. 

By the end of the session participants will be able to: 1) List ways to identify at risk adolescents; 2) Examine the 

benefits of collaborating with schools. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% 

DIDACTIC, AND 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Dorothe Ernste, Drs, Clinical Psychologist/Psychotherapist, Manager, Mental Health Care for 

SMI Adolescents; Ilone Kleijberg, MBA, ie, Executive Manager, both of De Jutters Centre for Intensive Youth 

Psychiatry, The Hague, The Netherlands 

“Striving to be the Best: What is Effective ACT Leadership?” 

Achieving effective leadership of an ACT Team is a multidimensional process which requires continuous 

development of self awareness, mastery of managerial skills, and deliberate development of clinical expertise. 

This workshop will examine specific elements of key areas within the leadership role and provide strategies for 

leadership development. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify components of effective leadership; 2) 

Examine various methods of acquiring leadership skills and competencies. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 


Presenters: Tracy Hinz, MSW, LICSW, ACT Team Leader, Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, Monticello, 

Minnesota; Lynette M. Studer, MSSW, LCSW, PhD Candidate/Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin- 

Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 

One Did Fly Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Decided to Roost There 

“I have problems in my mind but I am comfortable with that.” This workshop will focus on the power of the 

personal story and the unique set of social skills that go with the story. Sharing leads to better outcomes for persons 

served. The peer role is evaluated in regards to the increased sense of freedom for consumers to become active 

participants. Included will be an IMR adaptation and analysis of Wellness Recovery Action Plans. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe a perspective on the participation of the present 

peer(s) on their ACT or Treatment Team; 2) Identify ways to advocate for the value of the lives of the people 

that they serve. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 66% DIDACTIC, 33% 


Presenters: Kristin Hochard, MA, CTT Certified Peer Specialist; Bill Napora, CPS, CTT Certified Peer Specialist; 

Matthew E. Parker, MS, CPS, CTT Certified Peer Specialist, all of Mercy Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, 

Pennsylvania 

Supported Choice Making: Choice Not Control 

Note: While workshops 8, 44, 52 & 62 can be stand alone trainings, the presenters have designed 

them as a “track” of four workshops. We make effective choices to steer our lives toward our hopes and 

dreams and away from harm. Individuals living in, and receiving treatment from, our power-over-people culture 

have lost the opportunity and experiences to learn to make effective choices. This workshop presents a choice 

making process with which people can regain self-control of their lives. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the provider’s Cycle of Increasing Control that 

results in individuals progressively loosing the ability to have self-control, and the effect it has on their hope, 

identity, connections, choice making and resilience; 2) Identify the four-step choice making process and how 

to use it; 3) Discuss the skills necessary for making more effective choices. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 50% PARTICIPATORY, AND 25% EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Marc Chinard, MS, LCSW, Administrator, Regional Administrator, Telecare Corporation, Telecare 

Recovery Center at Gresham, Gresham, Oregon; David Heffron, BA, NHA, Vice President Operations, Telecare 

Corporation, Long Beach, California; Jennifer Obermeyer, LCSW, Administrator, Telecare ACT Oregon, 

Gresham, Oregon 


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ACT Rocks: A Collaborative Newfoundland Perspective 

Learn how three ACT teams in a geographically diverse and remote province planned, implemented and started 

ACT. Team managers relied on collaboration, partnership and relationship building to forge new ground and 

develop three high fidelity ACT teams. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe a collaborative process between three different 

health authorities that led to team effectiveness and high fidelity; 2) Explain how remote ACT teams face unique 

challenges and how they can be overcome. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 

75% DIDACTIC AND 25% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Beverley Barrett, BN, RN, BBA, Program Manager, Assertive Community Treatment and Case 

Management Services, Mental Health and Addictions, Eastern Health, St. John’s; Pamela Parsons, BN, RN, 

Manager of Mental Health and Addictions, Western Health, Corner Brook; Shannon Pike, BscH, MClSc, OT R 

NL, Regional Manager Mental Health and Addictions, Central Health, Grand Falls-Windsor, all of Newfoundland, 

Canada 

Friday Morning • May 18, 2012 

7:45 - 8:45 AM Breakfast 


9:00 - 10:30 AM Concurrent Workshops 54 through 64 

The Role of Relatives & Caregivers in ACT 

Historically, ACT has targeted individuals in psychiatric institutions whom may have lacked care-giving relatives 

and families. However, internationally, deinstitutionalization has also lead to an increase in contact with, and 

involvement of, relatives and informal caregivers. In the last decade, family approaches have been successfully 

disseminated for this group. The recent nation-wide implementation of ACT in Norway is inspiring us to examine 

how relatives and informal caregivers are incorporated into the ACT model. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe three important trends in the literature regarding 

the role of relatives and informal caregivers in treating with serious mental disorders; 2) Provide a rationale for why 

ACT should incorporate relatives and informal caregivers; 3) Explain a recovery and empowerment based model 

for involving relatives and informal caregivers. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL 

LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC, AND 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Pravin Israel, Dr. Psychol., PhD, Senior Researcher; Bente Weimand, RN, RNP, RNT, MA, PhD 

Candidate, Karlstand University, Sweden, both of Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway 

Client Death & Its Implication on an ACT Team 

This presentation will discuss the implications of ACT clients’ deaths on other clients and to the ACT team. Homeless 

individuals experience high rates of early mortality, and persons diagnosed with mental illness also have a reduced 

life expectancy dying on average 13.5 and 32.5 years earlier than the general population. The causes of death 

vary and can include: AIDS, cancer, hepatic disease, accidental deaths (drowning, MVA, hypothermia),suicide, 

homicide/death related to violence, poisoning (illicit drug & alcohol use), heart disease and complications related 

to chronic diseases such as diabetes. These stark statistics make death on an ACT Team an inevitable event that 

should be anticipated and carefully planned for. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to 1) Examine mortality statistics of homeless individuals in 

North America; 2) Describe the impact of deaths of clients on an ACT Team; 3) List ways to address this issue 

at their programs in the future. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 50% 

DIDACTIC, AND 50% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Jennifer Eyford, MSc, BSc, BN, RN, Program Manager – Hospital Team; Shelly Qualtieri, MA, BA, 

Program Manager – Justice Team, both of The Alex, Pathways To Housing, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 


27

56 

57 

58 

59 

28 


Implementing Individual Placement & Support within ACT 

This session illustrates how to identify key components of the Dartmouth Individual Placement & Support (IPS) 

Fidelity Scale to improve employment outcomes for vocational specialists and other team members. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the principles of IPS; 2) Compare traditional 

Vocational Rehabilitation Models with IPS. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE 

BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE LEVELS; 50% DIDACTIC, 40% PARTICIPATORY, AND 10% 

EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenter: Michelle Fassler, MA, Certified Benefits Planner, IPS Supervisor, Places for People, St. Louis, Missouri 

Getting Out of Recovery’s Way: Rural ACT in Michigan and California 

This workshop provides a comparison of approaches to treatment barriers in rural California and Michigan. We 

will discuss the blending of Evidence Based Practices, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment, DBT and Peer Support 

Specialists to support recovery within ACT programs. A review of recent programmatic outcome data will take 

place. There will also be opportunity for discussion and brief problem solving. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify barriers to treatment and strategies to enhance 

therapeutic partnerships; 2) Implement a blending of EBPs to support the recovery of ACT consumers. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 85% DIDACTIC and 15% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Lynn T. Johnson, MA, ACT Program Supervisor, Northcare Regional Family Psychoeducation 

Supervisor /State Trainer, Pathways Community Mental Health, Marquette, Michigan; Carol Stanchfield, MS, 

MFT, Program Director AACT & AOT, Turning Point Providence Center, Grass Valley, California 

Implementing ACT with IDDT: Lessons Learned 

This presentation provides an overview of the initiative in Franklin County, Ohio, to simultaneously implement 

ACT and IDDT. The content includes a description of impetus for the initiative, how both EBPs were rolled out 

in the local system, and lessons learned since the inception of the initiative. Facilitators will share challenges and 

strategies as well as outcomes data. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify successes, challenges and barriers with the 

simultaneous implementation of both IDDT and ACT; 2) Describe the core implementation structures to support 

simultaneous multiple EBP implementation; 3) Describe the outcomes achieved by this collaborative. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC, AND 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenters: Scott Gerhard, MA, LSW, Consultant and Trainer, Center for Evidence Based Practices, Case Western Reserve 

University, Cleveland, Ohio; Jon Ramos, BA, Program Coordinator, Ohio Coordinating Center for ACT, Cincinnati, Ohio 

Using a “Step Up” Group for Individuals with Co-Occurring Disorders 

Transitioning from Act 

Faced with maximum capacity at the ACT level, community programs have needed transition plans. Individuals 

with co-occurring disorders and high utilization of mental health services have posed the greatest challenges moving 

to less intensive case management. This workshop explores a unique “Step Up” approach using an independent 

living skill-based group work. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Use clinical data and LOCUS to identify members who 

would benefit from the “Step Up” group; 2) Explain four methods that enhance attendance and participation to group; 

3) Implement three clinical strategies to support individuals 

during the transition. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 

PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC, 20% 


Presenters: Jorge Duque, ASW, Vocational Specialist, 

Group-Program Facilitator; Yelena Rybkina, BS, Personal 

Service Coordinator II, Group-Program Facilitator, both of 

STRIDES ACT Program of Alameda, Telecare Corporation, 

Oakland, California 


60 

61 

62 

63 


Golden Nuggets of PACT Wisdom: Recruiting the Right Team 

This workshop will provide ACT Team Leaders and Program Directors with ideas and strategies for recruiting and 

retaining an effective ACT team. The focus will be on approaches used to hire the right staff, as well as to supervise 

and evaluate team/program leadership. Anecdotes from over a decade of ACT leadership will be shared. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify recruitment strategies for putting together an 

effective ACT team; 2) Identify strategies for retaining staff; 3) Explain the complex nuances of leading an ACT 

program. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 75% DIDACTIC, AND 25% 


Presenter: Brian Eig, PsyD, Program Director, Catholic Charities/Mercer-Burlington PACT, Trenton, New Jersey 

Practical Safety for ACT Teams 

Any team that works in the community has safety concerns. The FACT team from Seattle specializes in working 

with offenders and has developed safety protocols to keep their teams safe. Come and learn about common safety 

concerns and practical interventions and precautions to keep your teams safe. Topics will include: safety in the 

community, safe office set ups and safe consumer transports. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify common safety concerns of an ACT team; 2) 

Identify how to evaluate your team’s safety; 3) Take home safety protocols. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED FOR 


Presenters: Richelle Nordeen, MA, LMHC, CDPT, Department Manager, Integrated Services; Kevin St. Jacques, 

PsyD, LMHC, Senior Department Manager, Integrated Services, both of Sound Mental Health, Seattle, Washington 

Creating Culture Change at Your Agency 

Note: While workshops 8, 44, 52 & 62 can be stand alone trainings, the presenters have designed 

them as a “track” of four workshops. A program culture is the environment created by staff behaviors and 

awareness of interactions with each other and individuals served. Its purpose is to awaken and enhance recovery by 

countering the stigmatizing culture in which individuals live and receive traditional treatment. Increasing awareness 

in five areas creates the culture: power, respect, judgment, individual uniqueness and motivation. Awareness is 

enhanced with training and feedback from a reliable and valid culture evaluation tool. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify the five awarenesses that are active in effective 

cultures of recovery; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of program cultures using Recovery-Centered Measures tools 

provided; 3) Design a plan to transform a program culture to one that effectively awakens recovery. CONTENT IS 


EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Marc Chinard, MS, LCSW, Administrator, Regional Administrator, Telecare Corporation, Gresham, 

Oregon; David Mullen, MA,MFT, Clinical Director of Region 6 Recovery Center, Telecare Corporation, Omaha, 

Nebraska 

An Innovative Approach to Measuring ACT Model Fidelity: Self-Report 

vs. Phone-Based Fidelity 

With the increase in evidence-based practices, agencies are challenged by the burden of assessing the faithful 

implementation of programs like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). Given the resources, time, and burden 

associated with onsite fidelity visits, we explored alternative, more efficient methods of assessing fidelity, comparing 

self-report and phone-based fidelity for 16 ACT teams in Indiana. Results supporting the viability of both methods 

will be provided, as well as ways to improve future fidelity assessments. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Compare two methods for assessing ACT model fidelity; 

2) Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a self-report -based fidelity assessment for ACT programs and staff; 3) 

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a phone-based fidelity assessment for ACT programs and staff. CONTENT 

IS BEST SUITED FOR PARTICIPANTS AT ALL LEVELS; 70% DIDACTIC AND 30% PARTICIPATORY. 

Presenter: Laura White, MS, Graduate Student, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), 

Indianapolis, Indiana 


64 

30 


E-Learning ACT: Building E-Learning and Social Media into Instructional 

Design 

To be a successful ACT Team, a complex set of competencies must be methodically employed by all team 

members. Extensive, and more importantly effective, training is required to equip teams to deliver ACT 

services with fidelity to the model and meet the complex psychosocial needs of ACT members. This workshop 

will explore a hybridized learning solution that blends e-learning and social media with competency-based 

instructional design. 

By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Explain how e-learning solutions accommodate the 

demanding training requirements; 2) Identify the key steps involved in developing a competency based e-learning 

initiative; 3) Formulate a plan of how their organization could integrate online learning communities as a method 

of facilitating the development and application of ACT core competencies. CONTENT IS BEST SUITED 

FOR PARTICIPANTS AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL; 15% DIDACTIC, 15% PARTICIPATORY, AND 70% 

EXPERIENTIAL. 

Presenters: Kevin Mehnert, MBA, BS, Professional Development and Education Business Partner, Adult 

Behavioral Health Services, NHS Human Services, Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania; Lorraine Pauley, BS, Regional 

Adult Behavioral Health Specialist, NHS Human Services, Pottsville, Pennsylvania 

11:00 AM - NOON Closing Plenary 

ACT Then & Now: 

An Interview with Len Stein Reflecting on the 

Genesis & Development of ACT Teams 

Sam Tsemberis, PhD 

The 28 th Annual ACT Conference will officially close with a plenary address by Dr. 

Sam Tsemberis. Dr. Tsemberis serves as CEO of Pathways to Housing, an organization 

he founded in 1992 based on the belief that housing is a basic human right. Pathways 

developed the consumer driven evidence based Housing First program that provides 

immediate access to permanent supportive housing and ACT services to individuals who 

are homeless and who have mental health and addiction problems. In addition to his work 

at Pathways to Housing, Dr. Tsemberis is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry 

at Columbia University Medical Center. He is currently participating in national studies 

of homelessness, mental illness, and addiction in the US, Canada and Europe and has 

published numerous articles and book chapters on these topics. His Housing First manual 

was recently published (Nov. 2010) by Hazelden Press. 

In providing trainings for ACT Teams, Dr. Tsemberis found that a great deal of attention was being paid to operational 

and staffing issues but that team members lacked a broader picture of the mission and vision of ACT. About four 

years ago he had the opportunity to interview Dr. Len Stein, on of the founders of the ACT Model, and hear him 

reflect on the history and current practice of ACT. This two hour plus conversation was skillfully edited by Sue 

Peehl, an Academy Award winning Editor, into a 20 minute DVD. In the words of Dr. Sam Tsemberis, “Len is 

engaging, brilliant and wise!” He talks about the genesis of ACT, program fidelity, consumer choice and recovery. 

Dr. Tsemberis is excited for the opportunity to show this interview at the 2012 ACT Conference and afterwards will 

present a talk on the themes of ACT and recovery. We are confident this plenary address will remind us all of the 

innovation, bravery and compassion that embodies the ACT Model and encourage us to continue helping those 

diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness. 

NOON - 12:30 PM Closing Comments and Sweepstakes 


Travel Information 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Famous for its hospitality and friendly spirit, Boston is one of the premiere meeting destinations in the 

United States. The Greater Boston area is home to 3.7 million people, and nearly 18 million visitors explore 

the city annually. Founded in 1630—only ten years after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth—Boston grew as a 

harbor town. The city is almost completely surrounded by water, with the Atlantic Ocean on two sides and 

the Charles River running around its back. 

Boston is a wonderful blend of stylish sophistication and 

historic New England charm. You can easily uncover the 

city’s past while enjoying its distinctively modern edge. 

Year round Boston’s calendar is brimming with 

exceptional musical and theatrical productions and 

annual performances, new exhibitions and timeless 

favorites, walking tours or trolley tours, ethnic festivals 

and festivals of Food & Wine. Attend the 2012 ACT 

Conference and take the opportunity to explore the 

beautiful city of Boston, Massachusetts. 

For more information on Boston, 

visit www.bostonusa.com 

Airport 

Logan International Airport 

1 Harborside Drive, Boston, Massachusetts 02128 

www.massport.com/logan-airport 

Getting to Boston / Hotel from the Airport 

From Logan Airport – 3 Miles: 

Estimated taxi fare: 30.00 USD (one way) 

Driving: Follow signs to Sumner Tunnel/Boston. Take the ramp onto RT-1A S/William F 

McClellan Hwy. Merge north onto Interstate 93 and take the Storrow Drive Exit (26). 

Follow Storrow Drive and exit left at Back Bay/Copley Exit. At lights, take left onto 

Beacon St, and then take an immediate right onto Arlington St. The hotel is the 2nd 

building on the left after the park. 

Ultimate Shuttle - $17.00 per person, one-way. Reservations are recommended by calling: 888.437.4379. 

Shuttles pick up automatically every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at each Boston Airport Terminal 

outside of Baggage Claim, under the “Shared Van Pick-up” sign. 

Directions from the Subway: 

Approximately $2 per ride 

Take the Green Line to Arlington Station “T” Stop. The hotel is one block away. 

Take the Orange Line to Back Bay Station “T” Stop. The hotel is three blocks away. 


32 

The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers 

50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street | Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3912 

The 28 th Annual 

Assertive Community Treatment Conference 

May 16 – 18, 2012 

Preconference Institutes May 15, 2012 

Special ACT Conference Room Rates: Single or Double $189 

To Book Your Own Online Reservations visit: 

https://bostonparkplaza.reztrip.com/index.html#property=100&mode=b&pm=true&sr=11724 

Use Access Code: ACTCO 

For Phone Reservations call: 

1-800-225-2008 or 1-617-426-2000 and ask for the 

“28th Annual ACT Conference Group Rate” 

RESERVATION CUT OFF DATE: May 1, 2012 – 5 PM EDT 

A group block of a limited number of rooms at a discounted hotel room rate is available for conference 

attendees. The rate is $189 per room, per night for either a single or a double room. These rates are subject 

to the applicable State and Hospitality taxes of 14.45% (Tax rates subject to change). Unique to this hotel, 

double rooms each have two bathrooms – making these rooms ideal for sharing with colleagues and friends. 

To obtain the discounted rate you will need to either register online or if making telephone reservations ask 

for the 28th Annual ACT Conference group rate. The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers offers valet parking 

for our guests’ convenience for additional daily fees. Please inquire regarding rates when making your 

reservation with the hotel. 

PLEASE NOTE: To receive a room at the discounted ACT Conference group rate, you must make your 

reservation by May 1, 2012, 5:00 PM EDT. After this date, the discounted rate will be honored on a spaceand 

rate- available basis only. Reminder - the number of rooms at the discounted rate is limited, so make 

your reservations early! 

Arrangements for hotel accommodations are the responsibility of each individual registrant. Conference 

registration fees DO NOT include accommodations. Please DO NOT contact ACTA to make hotel reservations 

– contact the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. 

For detailed information about the hotel, its location, maps, transportation, 

parking, guest services, restaurants, and area attractions, please access the website: 

http://www.bostonparkplaza.com 

ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF SLEEPING ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE 

ACT CONFERENCE REDUCED RATE. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION EARLY! 

Reservations after May 1, 2012 will be accepted only on a space- and rate-available basis. 



Session Admission Policy Please Read Carefully 

NAME BADGES ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO ALL MEETING ROOMS and BREAKS. They are 

your “entry ticket” so please wear your name badge! 

ALL SESSION ADMITTANCE is on a FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED basis. As soon as all chairs are 

occupied, the facilitator will close the session. Fire codes prohibit attendees from standing in the aisles or against 

the walls. 

Please review your conference materials and select alternatives to your first choices ahead of time in case 

a desired session is closed. Every effort is made to assign presentations to rooms based on the anticipated 

attendance. During every concurrent session, there are more than enough seats to accommodate every attendee at 

a session and we believe all of the sessions have something valuable to offer. We appreciate your understanding 

and cooperation. 

Included with Conference Registration Fees 

In our efforts to maintain the lowest possible registration 

fees, and in line with the feedback we have received, 

we must limit the type and amount of refreshments 

we provide. Coffee/tea and bakery selections will 

be provided Wednesday morning. Coffee/tea will 

be provided at the breaks on Thursday and Friday. 

Refreshments served at breaks are available only to 

registered conference attendees; name badges are 

required for entry to the areas where they are served. 

Cell Phone Use Prohibited During All Sessions – Please No Texting or Talking! 

34 

A luncheon will be available on Thursday afternoon 

for an additional $25.00. Hot breakfast buffets will 

be available both Thursday and Friday mornings for 

an additional $25 per breakfast. These meal prices 

represent only a portion of the actual costs. The luncheon 

and breakfasts are PREPAID ONLY and the additional 

fees MUST be included with registration fees. Please 

note that admission to these meals cannot be purchased 

during the conference, nor will any refunds be given. 

Please turn-off/turn-to-vibrate cell phones and refrain from texting or talking during all presentations. Thanks! 

Session Evaluation Forms, Overall Conference Evaluation and Sweepstakes Entry 

Be sure to complete the evaluation forms for each 

session and return them to the session facilitator at the 

end of the session. Certificates of attendance with CE 

information will be provided in exchange for a completed 

evaluation at that time. Please note that certificates will 

be given ONLY at the end of the respective session and 

at no other time during the conference. Replacement 

certificates will not be given, nor will any certificates be 

provided at the registration desk or session facilitator’s 

table. Accrediting bodies (NOT the ACT Association) 

REQUIRE identifying information to award Continuing 

Education Contact Hours (CEs). That section of the 

evaluation MUST be completed ONLY if you want to 

receive CEs. If you do not need or want CEs, you may 

leave that section blank. 

General Information 

Overall conference evaluation forms are in your 

registration packet. Please complete the overall 

conference evaluation form and return it to the 

registration desk before leaving the conference. Your 

comments will help us plan for the 2013 Conference. 

The ACT Association will give each person turning in 

a completed evaluation a SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY 

form. At the end of the conference, a sweepstakes will 

be held with winners receiving gift cards and other 

small prizes; you need not be present to win these 

prizes. There will also be a grand prize awarded and 

for this prize you must be present to win. Check your 

conference materials for details! 


General Information 

Continuing Education Information for ALL Preconference Trainings, 

Workshops and Institutes 

The ACT Association will offer continuing education credits for a variety of professional disciplines from a number 

of accrediting organizations. Once applications are finalized and approved this information will be posted on the 

ACT Association website for participants to review. 

Special Considerations 

Please address questions, grievances, comments, and requests for ADA accommodations to the ACT Association by 

email to acta@actassociation.org. Requests for special needs must be submitted in writing and received at the ACT 

Association office by April 1, 2012. Requests received after this deadline cannot be considered; the steps necessary 

to fulfill requests received beyond this posted deadline would result in a significant difficulty and/or expense to the 

organization. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 


History 

36 

Since 1984, an annual conference dedicated to the promotion and development of Assertive Community 

Treatment (ACT) has taken place. Over the years, thousands of ACT professionals have participated in this 

networking and educational event. The Assertive Community Treatment Association was originally established 

as a non-profit organization to conduct this annual conference. 

Mission 

Assertive Community Treatment is an array of services provided by community-based, mobile mental health 

treatment teams. The mission of the ACT Association is to promote, develop, and support high quality assertive 

community treatment services that help improve the lives of people diagnosed with serious and persistent 

mental illness. 

Structure of the ACT Association 

The ACT Association is incorporated as a non-profit organization (Federal I.D. #38-3373915), with a volunteer 

Board of Directors governing the implementation of the association’s mission. Association membership 

consists of mental health providers, clients, family members, government agency officials, advocacy groups, 

and others committed to the expansion of the ACT service delivery model. 

Membership fees, trainings, and conference registration fees fund the Association. 

Goals 

The ACT Association seeks to: 

• Conduct an Annual Assertive Community Treatment Conference. 

• Provide education and training that enhances the effectiveness of service professionals in assisting 

persons diagnosed with mental illness in their recovery, and aids in the well-being of families. 

• Advocate with policy-makers for the continued development of ACT services as one of the most effective 

means of treatment for persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. 

www.actassociation.org 

Join the ACT Association or renew your 

membership today and SAVE on 

Conference Registration Fees NOW! 


ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. 

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION – PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY 

Name _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Title ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Organization ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Street _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

City ____________________________ State ________ Zip ____________ Country ____________________ 

Telephone ____________________________________ Fax ________________________________________ 

Email _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Annual Membership Dues 

q Individual Member $35.00 

q Non-Profit Agency $150.00 

q For-Profit Agency $375.00 

q New Member? q Renewing Membership? 

Memberships expire ONE YEAR from the date payment is received or renewal date. 

PAYMENT BY CHECK 

Make checks payable to: ACT Association Mail to: ACT Association 

P. O. Box 1624 

Novato, CA 94948-1624 

Payment by Credit Card 

q VISA q MASTERCARD q AMERICAN EXPRESS q DISCOVER 

Cardholder’s Name ______________________________________________ Billing Zip: __________________ 

Card # _________ ________ ______ _______ Expires _______/_______ Amount $____________ 

Month Year 

Fax to: 415-382-0664 

or 

Mail to: ACT Association 

P. O. Box 1624 

Novato, CA 94948-1624 ACTA Federal I.D. #38-3373915 

Join or renew your membership today and SAVE on Conference Registration NOW! 


37

38 

Registration Instructions and Information 

Regular Registration Deadline: April 27, 2012 (No Late Fee up to This Date) 

Late Registration Period: April 28 - May 4, 2012 ($50.00 Late Fee Applies) 

After May 4, 2012 – On-Site Registration Only on a Space-Available Basis 

($50.00 Late Fee Applies) 

Please SUBMIT ONLY ONE COPY of your registration by either fax or mail; DO NOT send duplicate registrations 

or follow a faxed registration with a hard copy by mail. Submitting more than one copy of a registration may result 

in duplicate registration charges. 

A separate registration form must be submitted for each person registering. Copy the registration form as needed. 

Do not submit a registration form with more than one person listed. Please complete each registration form legibly and 

in its entirety. PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR VALID EMAIL ADDRESS! Confirmations and receipts 

will be sent via email. 

All registrations must be accompanied by payment in U.S. funds (mailed–in registrations) or provide credit card 

information for immediate payment (faxed or mailed-in registrations). We DO NOT accept registrations by telephone. 

All registrations received after the April 27, 2012 deadline will be processed to include a $50.00 late registration 

fee. The ACT Association encourages early registration, as attendance may be limited. All registrations submitted by 

the deadline will be confirmed by email, and will include sales and credit card receipts. Please do not contact the ACT 

Association to request a faxed receipt. 

REGISTRATION REFUND: A refund will be given upon the ACT Association’s receipt of a written cancellation notice 

by April 27, 2012. A $50.00 per individual registration, non-refundable service fee will be charged on all cancellations. 

Any registrations cancelled after April 27, 2012 will not be refunded. 

Contact the ACT Association for inquiries regarding registration. The best way to contact us is by email at conference@ 

actassociation.org. You may also leave a message at (810) 227-1859 for a return call. 

Registration Frequently Asked Questions and Answers – FAQ 

Q: Should I register at the Member or Non- Member 

rate? 

A: Individuals who have paid a $35, and organizations 

that have paid either a $150 (non-profit) or a $375 (forprofit), 

Annual Membership Fee to the ACT Association 

are members. If you are a paid member, or work for 

an organization with a paid membership, you may 

register at the Member Rate. Contact ACTA by email 

to confirm your membership. To be a “Member” you 

or your organization will have paid dues to ACTA! 

Q: I am presenting at the conference, should I 

register? 

A: Yes. Everyone needs to register and pay to attend 

the conference unless otherwise arranged. A 15% 

discount on registration fees is offered to presenters. 

If you have any questions please contact us by email. 

Q: Are there separate fees for the Preconference 

Institutes and the Conference? 

A: Yes. Attendees may elect to register and pay for one 

preconference institute in addition to the conference. 

Only one preconference institute can be selected; 

attendees may not move between the preconference 

institutes. A continental breakfast, a luncheon (no 

additional fee required for preconferences luncheon), 

and morning and afternoon beverages are included 

in the preconference institute registration fee and 

are available to those who have registered for a 

preconference institute; these events are not open to 

general conference attendees. 

Q: Are breaks and meals included in the Conference 

Registration Fee? 

A: Breaks are included. Coffee/tea and bakery selections 

will be provided Wednesday morning. Coffee/tea will 

be provided at the breaks on Thursday and Friday. 

Refreshments served at the breaks are available only 

to registered conference attendees; name badges are 

required for entry to the areas where they are served. 

Meals are available for additional fees. Breakfast on 

Thursday and Friday and a Luncheon on Thursday 

afternoon will be available for an additional $25.00 

per meal, per person, which is substantially less than 

the actual cost. The meals are PREPAID ONLY (as meal 

counts must be submitted to the hotel in advance) and 

the additional fees MUST be included with registration 

fees. Please note that admission to meals cannot be 

purchased during the conference, nor will any refunds 

be given for any meals under any circumstances. 


ACTA Federal I.D. #38-3373915 

2012 ACT Conference 

Registration Form 

Registration Deadline: April 27, 2012 (No Late Fee up to this Date) 

Late Registration Period: April 28-May 4, 2012 ($50.00 Late Fee Applies) 

After May 4, 2012 – On-Site Registration Only on a Space-Available Basis 

($50.00 Late Fee Applies) 

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY AND FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM COMPLETELY – THANK YOU! 

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Title __________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Organization __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Street/Suite/P.O. Box ____________________________________________________________________________ 

City _________________________________ State _____ Zip____________ Country _______________________ 

Telephone ______________________________________ Fax __________________________________________ 

Email (required for confirmation) _______________________________________________________ 

A list of conference attendees is made available to Conference Exhibitors. To opt out of this list, please check here q 

Preconference Institutes – Tuesday, May 15, 2012 

Attending Institute ONLY (Please choose ONLY ONE of the Three) 

q Relationships OR 

q Motivational Interviewing OR q $295 Non-Member 

q Trauma q $250 ACTA Member 

Attending Institute in ADDITION to the Conference 

(Please choose ONLY ONE of the Three) 

q Relationships OR 

q Motivational Interviewing OR q $260 Non-Member 

q Trauma q $215 ACTA Member 

Conference May 16-18, 2012 

Please Indicate Which Days You Are Registering For: 

Entire Conference: q $445 Non Member 

q Wednesday, Thursday and Friday q $400 ACTA Member 

One and 1/2 Days 

q Wednesday and Thursday OR q $395 Non Member 

q Thursday and Friday q $350 ACTA Member 

One Day 

q Thursday q $295 Non Member 

q $250 ACTA Member 

Half Day 

q Wednesday q $225 Non Member 

q Friday q $180 ACTA Member 

Check here to purchase Meals: Thursday Hot Breakfast: $25.00 

Thursday Luncheon: $25.00 

For the Luncheon, Indicate Here if ordering Vegetarian: 

Friday Hot Breakfast: $25.00 

PLEASE NOTE: You must prepay for selected meals by enclosing the additional fees with your 

registration fees: Meal admissions will NOT be available for purchase at the Conference. 

Reminder: A late registration fee of $50.00 will be applied for registrations received after 

April 27, 2012. Any registrations cancelled after April 27, 2012 will not be refunded. 

Payment Method 

q Check or Money Order 

in U.S. Funds payable to: 

ACT Association 

ACTA also accepts Purchase Orders 

q MasterCard q Visa 

q American Express q Discover 

Credit Card #: 

_______ _______ _______ _______ 

Billing Zip Code: Expires: 

_______________ ______ / _____ 

Month Year 

Cardholder’s Name: 

_____________________________ 

FAX completed registration form 

(Credit card registrations ONLY) 

by April 27, 2012 to: 

(415) 382-0664 

or MAIL with payment 

Must be received by April 27, 2012 

Assertive Community Treatment 

Association, Inc. 

P.O. Box 1624 

Novato, CA 94948-1624 

Add together for Total Amount Due: 

Preconference Fee $ ___________ 

Conference Fee $ ___________ 

$50 Late Fee $ ___________ 

Meals ($25 or $50 or $75)+ $ ___________ 

Total Amount Paid $ ___________ 


NOTES 


2012 ACT Conference Staff, Board and Planning 

Committee Members 

Cheri M. Sixbey, MA, LMSW, LPC, CMP 

Conference Chair 

Telecare Corporation 

Alameda, California 

Alexandra M. Sixbey-Spring, BA 

ACTA Program & Services Coordinator 

ACT Association, Inc. 

Brighton, Michigan & Novato, California 

Susan Rein Kennedy, MS, APRN, BC 

Community Network Services 

Waterford, Michigan 

Anne Agar Krill, MN, RN 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Steven Harrington, MPA, JD 

ACTA Board President 

National Association of Peer Specialists 


Boston University Center for 

Psychiatric Rehabilitaton 

Revere, Massachusetts 

John Fallon, BS 

ACTA Board Vice-President 

Corporation for Supportive Housing 

Chicago, Illinois 

Darryl Mordell, BS 

ACTA Board Secretary/Treasurer 

Allegan County Community Mental Health 

Allegan, Michigan 

Leslie Hall, MSW, LMSW 

ACTA Board Member 

CMH Services of Livingston County 

Howell, Michigan 




Smyrna, Delaware 

Larry Mack, MA 


Telecare Mental Health Services 

San Antonio, Texas 

Brochure Design by: Alexandra Sixbey-Spring 

P.O. Box 2428 

Brighton, MI 48116 

Boston, Massachusetts photographs courtesy of 

Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

2012 ACT Conference Brochure Online - Assertive Community ...

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