What is AOT?

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) provides community-based mental health treatment through a partnership between the court, participants, and advocates as a way to:

motivate an adult with mental illness who struggles with steady treatment
encourage full treatment participation
focus treatment providers on the value of keeping the person engaged in treatment

Stopping the Revolving Door - A Civil Approach to Treating Severe Mental Illness from Treatment Advocacy Center on Vimeo.

How Can AOT Help Your Loved One?

AOT can be important for your loved one for the following reasons: it lowers their risk of harming themselves or other people, regular check-ins provide a sense of control over treatment and allow for changes to be made. When preparing to leave the program, participants stay connected to treatment services.

Wood County AOT Family and Client Advocate

Brianna Snow // briannas@namiwoodcounty.org

State AOT Contact

Betsy Johnson // johnsonb@treatmentadvocacycenter.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for AOT?

A person can be admitted into the AOT Program if they are in at least one of the following situations:

The person has just been released from an involuntary stay at the hospital
To prevent the person from an involuntary hospital stay or incarceration
The person has recently been released from jail or prison

Who can request an AOT order?

A parent, spouse, adult child or adult sibling of the person;
The director of the hospital where the person is hospitalized;
The director of a public or charitable organization, agency or home that provides mental health services to the person in whose institution the person resides;
A qualified psychiatrist who is either treating the person or supervising the treatment of the person for mental illness;
A licensed psychologist or licensed social worker who is treating the person for mental illness;
The director of community services, or social services official of the city or county where the person is present or is reasonably believed to be present; or
A parole officer or probation officer assigned to supervise the person.

Can a person be "forced" to follow the court-ordered treatment plan?

What are the rights of a person who is the subject of a hearing?

• access to all relevant documents, information and evidence in the custody of the prosecutor, hospital or other facility
• attend all hearings
• be represented by counsel of his or her choice, to waive counsel; or to have counsel appointed if unable to pay
• an independent expert evaluation at the courts expense if the person is unable to afford one
• subpoena witnesses and documents and cross examine witnesses
• testify if he or she so choses
• a copy of the court transcript
• a closed hearing

What happens after I refer my loved one?

If your loved one has been referred by law enforcement or another agency, the AOT Family/Client Advocate will reach out to ask about your loved one's history of treatment.

If you think your loved one could benefit from this program, call the AOT Family/Client Advocate listed above.

It is possible that the AOT Family/Client Advocate may find that your loved one is not a fit for the program. They will do their best to refer you to other resources to help your loved one.

There may be some time between when the AOT Family/Client Advocate reaches out to you and the court appearance. This is normal, but feel free to call the NAMI Wood County office if you have any questions or concerns.

Want to refer an individual to the program?

Click the form button and download the referral form to start filling out as much as you can. Send the form and supporting documents to Bree Snow, or email to refer an individual.

Participant Referral Form

This program is sponsored by the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board.