Assisted Outpatient Treatment

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a County-supported mental health program that helps individuals with serious mental illness engage in intensive outpatient care while continuing to live in the community.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is designed for people who have experienced repeated mental health crises and have had difficulty staying connected to treatment. The program provides structured support, clinical oversight, and coordinated services to promote recovery, stability, and independence.

What Is the Purpose of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)?

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) provides an opportunity to connect people to care before repeated hospitalizations, incarceration, or other serious outcomes occur.

The program is designed to:

Prevent repeated mental health crises
Reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and justice-system involvement
Support recovery through consistent, trauma-informed outpatient care
Help people engage in treatment they may not otherwise access
Promote a step-down approach as individuals stabilize and improve

Court involvement may be part of the process, but the focus remains on treatment and recovery, not punishment

What Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Is — and What It Is Not

What It Is

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is an outpatient program.
Participants live in the community and receive care and support designed to help them stay stable and avoid more restrictive interventions.

What It Is Not

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is not conservatorship.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) does not mean someone will be involuntarily committed.
A common concern is: “If I do this, I’m going to get locked up.”
That is not correct.

Who Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Is For

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) serves adults who:

Are 18 years or older
Are living with a severe and persistent mental illness that significantly interferes with daily functioning
Have a history of repeated hospitalizations, incarceration, or serious behavioral health crises
Have had difficulty engaging in voluntary mental health treatment
Would benefit from intensive outpatient support and care coordination

Eligibility is determined through a clinical and legal review process to ensure the program is appropriate and supportive.

How People Access Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)

You cannot sign up for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) on your own. Access occurs through established referral pathways, which may include:

Hospitals or inpatient settings
Behavioral health providers
Family members or caregivers
County behavioral health systems

Referrals are reviewed to ensure the program is the right fit and that appropriate services are available.

How the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Process Works

Instead of navigating multiple systems alone, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) provides the following coordinated pathway into care.

A referral is submitted by an approved source
The individual is evaluated for eligibility and need
The Treatment team partners with the client to develop a care plan
Services are delivered through intensive outpatient care in the community
Progress is reviewed regularly, with the goal of reducing support as stability improves

Service providers may be required to participate in court proceedings to explain treatment plans and ensure appropriate oversight. If the client does not participate in the program voluntarily, the program submits a petition to the AOT court recommending a treatment plan. If the court decides the client meets the criteria to be in the AOT program the providers will continue to attempt engagement with the client in effort to follow the court approved care plan.

Program Oversight and Transparency

The Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program operates under established county policies and state law to ensure:

Clear eligibility criteria
Appropriate referrals and safeguards
Respect for individual rights and dignity
Trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care

Program outcomes are tracked and shared through a public Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Data Dashboard, which includes information on referrals, engagement, and participant demographics to support transparency and continuous improvement.

Why Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Matters

For people experiencing repeated mental health crises, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) can provide the structure and support needed to stay connected to care — helping prevent more serious outcomes such as hospitalization, incarceration, or homelessness.

By combining outpatient treatment with coordinated oversight, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) helps individuals stabilize, recover, and move toward greater independence