What is Youth ACT?
Youth ACT is the youth version (for 16-20 years olds) of our adult Assertive Community Treatment services (ACT). ACT helps individuals living with a serious mental illness get help with all their mental health needs so they can avoid psychiatric hospital stays. The team visits clients on a regular basis to help them meet their goals.
The Youth ACT team is there to help clients with a variety of different things. Team Supervisor Susan says her team “provides a wrap-around service to youth in the community that includes psychotherapy, psychiatry, education support, alcohol and drug counseling, peer support, and nursing.”
Susan explains that youth often experience barriers to getting mental health services, but are at a transitional age where these services are crucial. Youth ACT “provides early intervention and education for young people that are often experiencing struggles related to their mental and chemical health for the first time.”
Who Does Youth ACT Help?
Our services help people ages 16-20 in the Twin Cities metro area who have a mental illness that interferes with their everyday life.
Individuals with a Medicaid-based health insurance plan are eligible to receive services. Clients are typically referred from hospitals, school social workers, and children’s mental health workers.
What’s it Like Being a Part of the Youth ACT Team?
Staff on the Youth ACT team have a variety of different specializations so they can meet clients’ holistic needs.
Because of each team member’s different specializations, everyone’s job looks a little different. “Some days,” says Susan, “include completing screening interviews, intakes, diagnostic assessments, treatment plans, and service delivery notes. As well as providing oversight for the team as these tasks are completed.”
Youth ACT also works with other Guild teams, like Youth Education and Employment Services, Adult ACT, and Guild’s residential services.
Youth ACT has a team mascot: the unicorn!