Assertive community treatment for parents with serious mental illnesses: a comparison of "parent-sensitive" assertive community treatment teams versus other teams.

OBJECTIVE Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice for individuals living with serious mental illnesses. Although studies estimate that at least half of people with serious mental illnesses are parents, little is known about ACT policies and services for parent consumers. METHOD Seventy-three ACT providers from 67 teams completed a survey about treatment services for parent consumers. Teams were divided into "parent-sensitive" and "nonsensitive" teams based on 3 indicators of parent-related services: identifying parental status, discussing parenting issues, and assisting with parenting needs. For each treatment indicator, teams were compared to determine factors that may contribute to parent-supportive services. RESULTS Providers from parent-sensitive teams that consistently identified consumers' parental status were more likely to talk with consumers about committed relationships and to assist consumers with parent-child communication. Parent-sensitive teams that frequently discussed parenting issues with consumers were less likely to be unsure of consumers' family plans, more likely to find out about parenting during goal setting, and more likely to assist with parent-related needs. Parent-sensitive teams that frequently provided assistance with parenting needs were more likely to serve minority consumers and consumers who want children, spend more time discussing parenting issues, and offer special programs for parent consumers. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Findings suggest that simply identifying consumers as parents is not sufficient for ensuring consistent provision of parent-supportive services, whereas discussing parenting issues is associated with increased service provision. More intensive, evidence-based parent-supportive services are needed, as well as continued research on parents with serious mental illnesses and available treatment services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).