1. Patrick Van Amburgh, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in psychology from Springfield College, worked as an ACT
coordinator in SLS Residential, a transitional living facility in
Brewster, New York, for adults with persistent psychiatric
disorders. Van Amburgh’s duties included helping members with
various aspects of their daily lives, ranging from personal care to
taking medication; providing personal counseling; and helping
residents to follow their plans to reenter general society.

2. Research suggests that the kind of situation into which patients
with psychiatric disabilities like schizophrenia are initially
discharged is a critical factor in predicting their rates of relapse and
readmission. Patients who are discharged into caring and
supportive environments are likelier to make quicker and more
lasting recoveries. Transitional housing that is comfortable and
supportive plays a vital role in helping people with persistent
psychiatric and psychological disorders make stable and
sustainable recoveries. Residential programs may provide a
number of options to patients, ranging from structured living with
24-hour care to independent community living in individual
apartments. Effective facilities have comprehensive staffs,
including psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, social workers, and
substance abuse specialists.