However, some individual circumstances can change quickly and decompensation may be seen. Having a care coordinator in place can help forestall more serious problems from occurring and monitoring by the care coordinator is a significant advantage. The future includes plans for an automated data base to accurately measure and evaluate AOT program outcomes. Frequent discussions and consultations are made with treatment facilities and housing programs to ensure that the program is meeting the needs of consumers. We have learned through our initial efforts in implementing this program that the development of flexible, creative and well planned programming is necessary for this high need population.
Programs continue to evolve and community-based services are expanding.
New initiatives associated with AOT are underway. The Medication Grant Program and Transition Management Program will be put into place over the course of the next few months as a means of assisting with high need populations. The Medication Grant Program will be available for consumers who are involved in the Medicaid application process. This will help eliminate gaps in medication coverage and ensure ongoing Transition Management Program will identify individuals to be discharged from correctional settings and general hospital inpatient psychiatric programs by assisting in reintegration into the community. To reiterate, the overriding goal of the AOT program is to maximize functioning and maintain stability for consumers within the community while being responsive to public safety concerns and we believe the community is supporting a program that has been designed to accomplish this goal.