Since 1984, an annual conference dedicated to the promotion and development of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) has taken place. Over the years, thousands of ACT professionals and people with mental illness and their families have participated in this training and continuing education event. In 1997, the Assertive Community Treatment Association, Inc. (ACTA) was initially founded to coordinate, develop, and promote the annual ACT conference.

ACTA is incorporated as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Membership in ACTA consists of mental health treatment providers, people with mental illness and their family members, government agency officials, mental health advocacy groups, and others committed to the ACT service model. The ACT association is financed by membership fees and contributions, workshops and trainings, conference revenue, and grants from public and private organizations.

The Assertive Community Treatment Association, Inc. envisions a world where:

• People with mental illness have access to the level of services they need to maximize their quality of life and achieve their dreams.
• Services are available where people live, which respect individual choice and meet their continuum of needs.
• Systems of care promote hope and recovery and empower persons served to reach their full potential.
• Services are provided in a holistic manner by multi-disciplinary team whose staff represent the diversity of their communities.
• Teams have access to training opportunities to increase their capacity for innovation and learning.

The ACT Association seeks to:

• Conduct an Annual Assertive Community Treatment Conference.
• Provide education and training that enhances the effectiveness of service professionals in assisting persons diagnosed with mental illness in their recovery, and aids in the well being of families.
• Advocate with policy-makers for the continued development of ACT services as one of the most effective means of treatment for persons diagnosed with serious mental illness.

Assertive Community Treatment is an array of services provided by community-based, mobile mental health treatment teams. The mission of the ACT Association is to promote, develop, and support high quality assertive community treatment services that help improve the lives of people diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness.