Access Crisis Intervention (ACI)
Goals
- To provide immediate response, intervention, and referral for persons experiencing mental health crisis on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis whether in a rural, urban or metropolitan area.
- To respond to crisis by providing community-based intervention in the least restrictive environment, e.g., home, school.
- To avert the need for hospitalization to the greatest extent possible.
- To stabilize persons in crisis and refer them to appropriate services to regain an optimal level of functioning.
- To mobilize and link individuals with services, resources and supports needed for ongoing care following a crisis, including natural support networks.
Components of ACI:
- 24-hour "live" phone response - telephone crisis/referral/information
- Mobile crisis response - 24-hour staffing, provide face-to-face on-site crisis stabilization
- Next day appointments - allow the individual to receive timely services
- Inpatient crisis services - decision of last resort after other options have been tried, or when it is obvious that other options will not work or others will be harmed
- Alternative services - e.g. 23-hour observation beds, respite ACI Quarterly Report



