In addition, there are support and administrative staff provided to assist each team.  Every ACT and BE team has a specialty (substance abuse, high utilizers, vocational, forensic, young adult, ID, etc.), and participants are assigned to a team based upon their individual needs. For numerous years, CTT has maintained a relationship with Widener’s Institute of Graduate Clinical Psychology.  Pre-Doctoral candidates complete a one year internship CTT’s program learning how to work with individuals in the Behavioral Health System.  These interns work 3 days per week at CTT providing specialized clinical evaluations for both the ACT, BE and BHID Teams under the supervision of CTT’s Clinical Director.

ACT Clinicians are trained in evidence-based treatment modalities: CBT, DBT, and IDDT; participants involved in DBT typically experience a reduction in acute psychiatric inpatient hospitalization days, attributed primarily to commitment to the treatment modality and the intensive level of direct access to clinicians after hours.  Overall CTT’s use of CRC’s has continually decreased and CTT has experienced a reduction in EAC admissions. In addition to on-going training in core competency skills, CTT staff receives an orientation to Trauma, and Employment Supports which is a recent evidence-based addition to enhance staff skill levels.  However, CTT has always maintained a transitional employment program currently serving 22 ACT and 10 BE/BHID participants; one individual has obtained full-time gainful employment in the past year.  While jail recidivism continues to be an issue there has been a consistent reduction over the past several years.  About 60% of CTT Participants reside in independent living (1260, Clearinghouse, Section 8 and market apartments).  At the present time, CTT has approximately 800 Participants about ½ of whom are self-payee.  CTT collaborates with Consumer Satisfaction Team (CST) in providing annual Participant Satisfaction Surveys, and has a quarterly ACT as well as BE Advisory Board composed of participants, family members, stake holders and staff who provide feedback on CTT services.  CTT’s mission is to provide qualitative services that permit participants to achieve their maximum level of independence.

Philadelphia Community Treatment Teams Incorporated

Contact

3401 I Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134

Phone 215.923.8042

Fax 215.923.8064

Originally created in 1989 in response to the closure of Philadelphia State Hospital, CTT has since broadened its mandate to include those discharged from Norristown Hospital (NSH), persons with forensic histories referred through the First Judicial District Mental Health Court System, and those with co-occurring mental health disorders (substance abuse, intellectual disabilities).  CTT provides 24 hour/7 day coverage to provide whatever is necessary to enable the participant to prosper in the community.  CTT embraces a holistic approach to service, ensuring that each participant has appropriate behavioral, medical and dental health care, vocational opportunities, financial resources, a home, as well as family, social and recreational activities as desired.  CTT services are delivered consistent with recovery principles, are evidence and strengths-based, culturally competent, trauma informed and person centered. Creative approaches and close linkages with other service organizations enhance services. Most work is performed in the community, whenever and wherever the participant needs assistance.

  1. The ACT model is an evidence-based practice that provides comprehensive self-contained services that include case management, health care coordination, mental health and substance abuse treatment, criminal justice support and other needed services.  ACT has a multidisciplinary  staffing that includes a mental health professional team leader, 4 clinicians, 3 registered nurses, CADC addictions counselor, 2 BA/BS level case managers, case management benefits specialist, certified peer specialist, psychiatrist and program assistant.
  2. The Blended Enhanced model includes case management and direct psychiatric services when needed. Four of the BE teams are comprised of a mental health professional team leader, 7 case managers, a certified peer specialist, a nurse and a part-time psychiatrist.  
  3. The BHID team also operates under a BE model, but has enhancements including close collaboration with ID service providers (PCHC, ID Service Coordination, etc.) in order to better assess and serve these individuals.  The team has a mental health professional director and team leader, 4 BA/BS case managers, half-time psychiatrist,registered nurse, psychologist, behavioral specialist, peer specialist, and program assistant.

CTT operates under two case management models:  Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Blended Enhanced (BE), which is sometimes referred to as Non-Fidelity ACT.  Currently CTT has a maximum capacity of 1,056 participants: 386 on Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACT), 342 on Blended Enhanced Teams (BE), and 85 on our newest BHID Team (BHID).  There are 4 ACT Teams, 4 Blended Enhanced Teams, and a 5th specialized BE Team (BHID).