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ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a service delivery model for providing comprehensive community-based treatment to persons with severe and persistent mental illness. This intensive case management programs targets individuals with an intended outcome of reducing the need for psychiatric hospitalization. ACT is designed to provide highly individualized services in a team-based environment. Services are designed to be comprehensive and multi-disciplinary and are tailored to the needs of the client. The Step Up ACT program replaced the former Partners and ATCMS program and is funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. ACT is located at: S.T.E.P. Program (Steps Toward Empowering People) New S.T.E.P. Program (Steps Toward Empowering People) – was created by recently passed Prop.63 Mental Health Services Act funds. The program focuses on adults who have a major mental illness and demonstrate a need for intensive mental health services based on their history and current level of functioning as well as not currently receiving appropriate levels of mental health services. There are specific criteria established by the County and State such as extended periods of homelessness, long- term institutionalization or multiple acute hospitalizations or family dependence that would have minimal supports without family care. Call us for more information or referrals. S.T.E.P. is located at: [Back to Top] Families often do not know where to turn when they realize that severe mental illness has afflicted a loved one. Daniel's Place was created to help young people and their families to overcome the many challenges they face as they cope with "a first break" of their family member. The Daniel's Place website has more detailed information about the program.
Member services
Case Management
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Mary, diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, saw her marriage end in divorce and the departure of her four children with their Dad. Mary learned of Step Up and enrolled in our vocational training program. Working as a Fresh Start cashier, Mary gained valuable job skills that she was able to leverage into a regular position with a local coffee shop. She has used her experience to help teach others about mental illness. Today, Mary has been able to re-establish relationships with her children and has quit smoking. Allen was homeless on and off for seven years. He had been diagnosed with severe depression. Life on the streets was hard and he knew he needed help. He found that finding a job was too difficult when you have to carry all your possessions with you. Allen heard about Step Up from others and decided he would try our program. Allen started attending and became more involved in Step Up services, attending groups, enrolling in our vocational program and he secured a job on-site at Step Up performing maintenance. Through case management assistance, Allen secured a single apartment in Santa Monica and re-established visiting rights with his young daughter. “Step up has been great for me; I have learned that sometimes you have to sacrifice your old friends and habits to get ahead. Don’t keep looking back, look forward.” Thomas was living on the street and was admitted to the hospital in 1999 where he was told about Step Up on Second by one of his doctors. He was scared and nervous about coming to Step Up, but became more comfortable after he spoke with a case manager and realized that there was hope for him. He started to come for breakfast and dinner at Step Up a few times a week, and then was able to get housing in an apartment in the Los Angeles area with the help of his case manager. In the six years that Thomas has been a part of Step Up, he has been able to put his life back together piece by piece.
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Daniel's Place opened in July 1998, and it offers help for young adults experiencing their first episode of mental illness. Services are free of charge and include support groups, individual consultations, support for family members, and information about all forms of mental illness including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Young adults are given encouragement and hope to face their disabilities and to lead positive, meaningful lives. Family members are given the support they need to cope with the challenges they face in helping their loved ones who are mentally ill. We have served over 300 families. 
Of the 1,200 individuals served each year by Step Up, about 45% of Step Up members are homeless and mentally ill. Step Up provides a variety of services specifically for homeless members. We offer access to showers and laundry facilities, mail pickup, money management and of course, housing assistance. 
James was homeless for 7 ½ years. He has a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcohol dependency. James hears voices, has bouts of depression and he struggles with cravings for alcohol which provides a temporary respite from the voices he hears. After working diligently on his goals, James moved into his own apartment after nearly eight years of being on the street. For the first time in years his eyes are bright and twinkling as he reports, “I’m very happy in my new apartment . . . I only hear (voices) one or two per week instead of daily. . .” When he first moved into his apartment he was scared of being indoors and would have to leave in the middle of the night just to sit outside. After all, his voices told him he shouldn’t get an apartment. But he chose not to listen to them this time. He said his apartment has helped him to control his drinking which as caused his medications to be more effective which has caused his voices to decrease. James still struggles with his illness but he reports feeling good most of the time. 
Michael did not have anyone to turn to before he came to Step Up on Second. He was living on the street, unsure of how to get out of the cycle of homelessness, but wanting to find a place of his own. When he heard about Step Up from a friend on the street, he knew it sounded like a place that could help him get his life in order. Michael did not know what to expect and says he was surprised at how friendly and helpful the staff were to him. Michael now lives in an apartment at Step Up on Second, attends church regularly and has a long term plan of finding himself a house that he can call his own. Built by ASTRALCOM