Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can make a referral to The Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program?
- a parent, spouse, adult sibling, or adult child of
the person
- an adult roommate
- the director of a hospital in which the person is
hospitalized
- the director of an organization, agency or home in
which the person resides or receives services
- a psychiatrist who is either treating or supervising
the person's treatment
- the social services official or mental health
director for the county (or City of New York) where the person is believed to
be present
- a parole or probation officer assigned to supervise
the person
- a licensed social worker or psychologist
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How long does the person remain in the AOT Program?
The initial order is effective for up to six months from the date of the order. The order can be extended for successive periods of up to one year each, but any application to extend AOT requires a showing that the person continues to meet all of the AOT criteria.
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What happens if the person does not comply with the terms of the court order?
If a physician determines that the person may need involuntary admission to a hospital, the physician may request that the person be transported to a hospital, where the person may be retained for up to 72 hours for an examination to determine if inpatient care and treatment are necessary. Any decision to retain the person beyond the initial 72 hours must be in accordance with the procedures for involuntary admission set forth in the Mental Hygiene Law.
For more information call 311.
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