ACT Updates

ACT Institute Core Principles Training Becomes One-Day Event Thursday, October 18, 2012

The ACT Institute's two-day in-person Core Principles Training has been redesigned and is now a one day event. This new, streamlined training complements the online modules that staff must complete before they register for the in-person Core Principles training.

The training will emphasize interactive exercises and feature didactic presentations covering:

ACT Core Principles
- Recovery
- Cultural competency
ACT Core Process
- Engagement
- Assessment
- Treatment planning
- Rehabilitative treatment
- Ongoing evaluation for transition

Please note, this training is equivalent to the 2 day core principles training and you do not have to repeat the training if you completed it within the past 5 years.

Office of Mental Health Establishes New Expectations for Training of ACT Team Members Monday, April 16, 2012

The NYS OMH has established new expectations for the training of ACT team members including newly hired staff, staff who have been ACT team members for some time, and team leaders. The new expectations are due to the ACT Institute’s addition of online training modules for ACT team members. In-person regional training sessions will continue to be provided.

Please use this link to read the letter from Robert W. Myers, Ph.D., Senior Deputy Commissioner of OMH, which communicates these new training expectations.

Training Title	Type	Staff	Timeline
Promoting Recovery through a Mobile, Team-based Approach	Online Course	All Staff	New Hires – 1 month after hire Current Staff – Due by September 1, 2012
ACT Core Principles (Version 2/ Version 3 as of October 2012)	Face-to-Face	All Staff	New Hires – First scheduled training after hire Current Staff-Update if Completed before 2007
Engaging Consumers in Assertive Community Treatment	Online Course	All Staff	New Hires – 1 month hire Current Staff – Due by September 1, 2012
Person-Centered Treatment Planning	Face-to-Face	All Staff Excluding Program Assistants	New Hires-First scheduled training after hire Current Staff – Update if Completed before 2007
FIT Module 12: Stage-Wise Treatment	Online Course	All Staff Excluding Program Assistants	New Hires – 1 month after hire Current Staff – Due by September 1, 2012
FIT Module 08: Motivational Interviewing	Online Course	All Staff Excluding Program Assistants	New Hires – 1 month after hire Current Staff -Due by September 1, 2012
FIT Module 19: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Coping Skills and Problem Solving	Online Course	All Staff Excluding Program Assistants	New Hires – 1 month after hire Current Staff – Due by September 1, 2012

Institute Updates Core Curriculum Wednesday, September 28, 2011

In September 2011, the Center for Practice Innovation's ACT Institute recently updated the core training curriculum for ACT providers. The new curriculum includes 24 hours of in-person training plus 7.5 hours of web-based training. Starting in October, 2011, all new staff joining ACT teams will be required to complete the following training modules:

Assertive Community Treatment Model
Promoting Recovery through a Mobile, Team-based Approach
ACT Core Principles
Engaging Consumers in Assertive Community Treatment
Person-Centered Treatment Planning

Integrated Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders

FIT Module 12: Stage-Wise Treatment
FIT Module 08: Motivational Interviewing
FIT Module 19: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Coping Skills and Problem Solving

The second web-based training module, entitled Engaging Consumers in Assertive Community Treatment, describes a variety of strategies used during the early and later phases of engagement. This module is a prerequisite for face-to-face Person-Centered Treatment Planning currently required for all new ACT staff members.

In another exciting development, the ACT Institute has also arranged for all ACT staff to receive free access to over thirty additional web-based modules in the FIT (Focus on Integrated Treatment) initiative. These modules cover a broad range of topics related to integrated treatment of mental health and substance use conditions such as: screening and assessment, supervision skills and advanced motivational interviewing and CBT techniques. The FIT modules can be accessed through the Learning Community by all ACT team members who are registered in the Learning Community.

Institute Launches Web-based Training Series Monday, November 01, 2010

In November 2010, the ACT Institute launched the first in a series of web-based training modules. This first hour-long module, entitled Assertive Community Treatment: Promoting Recovery through a Mobile, Team-based Approach, provides a broad overview of the ACT model and is a prerequisite for face-to-face core training currently required for all new ACT staff members.

Developed by Center for Practice Innovations (CPI) trainers and other ACT experts, in collaboration with Allen Communications, the module also serves as an excellent refresher course for experienced ACT workers and staff employed in non-ACT treatment programs. You can access the module via CPI’s Learning Community.