The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is implementing major changes to its staff structure and case management approach, with a shift from the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model to the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) model. These adjustments, which will officially take effect on January 1, 2024, aim to improve service delivery and streamline resources while supporting clients in permanent supportive housing.
Leadership and Staff Changes
The restructuring comes amid several significant departures. One key change involves the departure of a long-serving case manager, who has worked with clients like me for over four years. This case manager recently accepted a position with the courts. Similarly, a nurse left the Coalition to further her education, as her position was phased out during this organizational transition. Additionally, an assistant property manager recently departed to accept a new role with the Denver Housing Authority.
These departures underscore the shift in strategy and the new direction for the Coalition’s services. Despite these changes, the leadership remains committed to ensuring continued client support.
Transition from ACT to CTI: What’s Changing?
According to Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the Coalition, the shift to the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) model will replace the current Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) approach. While both ACT and CTI are evidence-based case management strategies, their methodologies differ significantly:
- ACT focuses on continuous, intensive services to ensure the needs of clients with severe mental health challenges are met. While effective, this approach is also resource-intensive.
- CTI, on the other hand, is a more flexible, time-limited model emphasizing targeted support during transitional periods, such as moving into new housing or during crises. It reduces service intensity as clients stabilize but ensures long-term support when necessary.
Alderman explained that the shift to CTI would improve service delivery and allow for better resource allocation while focusing on housing stability and self-sufficiency.
What the Changes Will Look Like
The Coalition’s move to CTI will prioritize:
- Enhanced Service Delivery: Dedicated teams of case managers, peer support specialists, and behavioral health clinicians will collaborate at each property to provide tailored, consistent client support.
- Phase-Based Engagement: Services will intensify during critical transitional moments but taper off as clients regain stability and independence.
- Focused Transitional Support: CTI’s model will target high-stress periods, like move-ins or personal crises, with a higher level of care.
- Resource Efficiency: With targeted interventions during critical times, services can reach more clients while promoting self-sufficiency and housing stability.
A Personal Perspective
For clients relying on these services, the changes are profound. As someone in permanent supportive housing, I’ve depended heavily on my case manager for both practical support and emotional guidance. His departure marks the end of a four-year partnership built on trust and understanding. While a new case manager will eventually step in, the personal history and knowledge my case manager had about my journey will be hard to replicate. His support was invaluable, particularly during moments of stress or change.
Additionally, the departure of the nurse means adjustments to my medical care routine. For instance, this month I had to visit the Coalition health care center at the 48th Avenue homeless shelter for my injection, assisted by my former case manager. In the future, the nursing supervisor will administer my care during clinic visits, but long-term independence will involve learning to travel independently to these appointments—a significant step, given my previous traumatic experiences on public transportation.
The Bigger Picture
Alderman emphasized that the Coalition’s goal with CTI is more than just restructuring—it represents a commitment to enhanced client-centered care, seamless integration of medical services, and the promotion of independence and self-sufficiency among clients.
As these changes unfold, clients will need to adapt, but the hope is that these adjustments will lead to more targeted, efficient, and sustainable support. The transition may feel uncertain at first, but the Coalition remains focused on its mission to foster stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term housing solutions for its most vulnerable residents.
The changes are set to go into full effect at the start of 2024—clients and staff alike will begin a new chapter with the promise of focused, transitional, and strategic support in a changing landscape of needs.
