Overview

Family with Adopted Children Taking WalkThere are many types of families. Each person defines his or her family in her own way. Not all families include a mother, father, and child. A family might include same sex parents, single parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, and close friends. Positive supports can help families live happy and productive lives. Sometimes a positive support is used to improve the health and wellness of the entire family. Other positive supports help family members to care for an elderly parent. A positive support practice can be used to teach young children new social or emotional skills. Positive supports help family members learn how to empower an adult child with a disability to live a more independent life. Any family member can benefit from positive support. A positive support practice should take into account the culture and context of the family setting. Positive supports empower families to make changes that will improve quality of life for everyone living in the home.

In Depth

Resources

Minnesota Resources

Minnesota Adult Mental Health Assertive Community Treatment Information

Minnesota Standards for Assertive Community Treatment

Minnesota Assertive Community Treatment Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale

National Resources

Assertive Community Treatment Summary

Cost Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment
Clark, R. E., Teague, G. B., Ricketts, S. K., Bush, P. W., Xie, H., McGuire, T. G., … Zubkoff, M. (1998). Cost-effectiveness of assertive community treatment versus standard case management for persons with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders. Health Services Research, 33(5 Pt. 1), 1285–1308.