The Assertive Community Treatment Program serves individuals with severe mental illness
South Central Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive behavioral health organization, WellSpan Health, is expanding again. WellSpan’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program is now open to patients at a newly renovated, larger location in York to provide critical behavioral health services to adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, primarily schizophrenia, major mood disorder, or psychosis. The new location is located at 150 Roosevelt Ave., where health system leaders and community partners recently celebrated with a ribbon cutting, open house, and staffing recruitment fair.
Research from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill shows that 1 in 5 Americans experience some form of mental health challenge during life, and 5 or 6 of every 100 Americans experience a severe mental illness. Many patients with severe mental illness have co-occurring problems, such as substance abuse, homelessness, or are involved in the judicial system.
“We know that recovery is possible for anyone, even those with really challenging mental health conditions.” said Dr. Shannon Gordon, vice president, WellSpan Behavioral Health. “Behavioral health challenges do not take a break, and neither do we. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide help when our patients need it most, and ACT services include medical care, teaching skills for successful recovery and linking patients to needed resources.”
WellSpan’s York ACT program was established in August 2022, when WellSpan was chosen to take the reins of a program discontinued by another provider. To prevent a lapse in care for dozens of patients with immediate mental health needs, the program was initially launched at WellSpan office space in the Loretta Claiborne Building on South George Street in York. Now the program has a new home with space for additional patients. Up to 64 patients can be treated at this new location.
The Roosevelt Avenue location features two additional private offices, three group rooms, and a kitchenette that can help assist patients with their daily living skills, like being able to prepare meals for themselves. Services offered at the new 3,200-square-foot suite include assessments, client centered treatment plans, medication management and distribution, individual and group therapies, social and interpersonal relationship training, peer support, and crisis and diversion services.
“Psychiatry seeks to honor patients’ stories and life experiences,” said Dr. Rosemary Keffer, psychiatrist, York ACT. “This approach at York ACT helps us deliver comprehensive, highly individualized care to give patients the best path possible to move forward.”
The need for behavioral health services continues to grow. In 2022, WellSpan Health experienced a 30% increase in behavioral health patients compared to 2021. To address the growing needs for behavioral health in our community, WellSpan has invested more than 30 million dollars into growing and expanding our behavioral health services.
WellSpan operates more than 50 behavioral health programs offered at 27 care locations across South Central Pennsylvania, including additional ACT programs in Lancaster and Lebanon, with each location having the capacity to treat 56 patients. Click here to learn more about the Assertive Community Treatment Program.
To help provide behavioral health services and meet growing needs, WellSpan has open positions for professionals to join our team. Opportunities are available in various settings and locations across WellSpan’s service area. To learn more about upcoming job fairs and opportunities to join the WellSpan team, visit joinwellspan.org/events.
