Evaluating use of continuous treatment teams for persons with mental illness and substance abuse. Psychiatric Services

teams serving persons with co-oc-curring severe mental disorders and substance abuse disorders at seven sites in New Hampshire were evaluated to determine their fidelity to a model based on the Program for Assertive Community Treatment. Methods: Continuous treatment teams and standard case management programs at the seven sites were evaluated on 13 criteria forfidelity to the continu-ous treatment team model over a 27-month period. Data sources in-cluded clinicians ’ activity logs, agencies ’ management informa-tion systems, interviews, observa-tion ofstaffactivity and practices, and clinical records and other docu-ments. Results: The continuous treatment teams scored signifi-cantly higher than the case man-agementprograms on ten oftbe 13 criteria. The teams were more ef-f ective than the case management programs in implementing sub-stance abuse treatment. Conclu-The authors are affiliated with th