Intensive residential treatment (IRT) teams
Intensive residential treatment (IRT) teams work with individuals discharging or diverting from state hospitals or long-term hospitalizations who need wraparound support.
IRT teams are the primary mental health provider for their service recipients. They use elements from assertive community treatment (ACT) to provide intensive wraparound mental health care to support the individual as they transition to a lower level of care.
The teams
IRT teams provide services five days a week based on the needs of the person. They work with individuals who live in adult family homes or assisted living facilities after discharge or diversion from a state hospital or long-term hospitalization. Services are delivered where the client lives or other appropriate community setting.
Each team consists of:
- A dedicated prescriber (availability and hours to be determined) or (prescriber will be available part-time)
- Full-time registered nurses (RN)
- Full-time mental health providers (MHP)
- Full-time peer counselors
The teams provide recovery-based treatment designed to promote stability, safety, and help the individual transition to a lower level of care. They also provide medication management to the clients and primary mental health services based on individual need. The entire team is trained in some form of cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBT-p) based on their qualifications.