The Advisory Group should have at least 10 members, but usually fewer than 15 members to facilitate discussion. Members typically serve for a staggered, two-year term. Members should be knowledgeable about severe mental illnesses and the challenges that people with severe mental illnesses face in living in the community the team will serve, or already serves. People recovering from mental illnesses, and their relatives, are very well qualified to identify problems and solutions that others overlook. Members should be good problem solvers who have a positive attitude.
Members listen to and seek to understand the perspective of all stakeholders.
Members must make a commitment to regularly attend Advisory Group meetings. In a competitive bid environment, the Advisory Group may form as part of developing a proposal to make a bid for a contract, or shortly after the contract is awarded. With an assertive community treatment team that is already in place, an Advisory Group is formed to strengthen the team and increase the team's resources and community understanding and support for assertive community treatment. The state, or county, mental health authority may contractually require that new and existing ACT teams form advisory groups. The Advisory Group meets within 30 days of the award of a contract to develop an ACT team.