Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a program that provides complete, community-based care for people with serious mental illnesses who haven’t found enough relief from other kinds of treatment. ACT is designed for those with the most severe symptoms and the greatest challenges in daily life—such as meeting basic needs, finding safe housing, and staying safe.

Adults in ACT receive support from a dedicated team of professionals, including mental health specialists, nurses, and psychiatrists. Our Riverwood Center ACT team has training in psychiatry, social work, nursing, substance use disorders, and job training. They work together to provide services that may include:

• Medication management
• Supportive therapy
• Crisis intervention
• Hospitalization
• Substance use disorder treatment, including group therapy
• Life skills training, such as managing daily activities
• Help finding and keeping a job
• Support with legal and advocacy services, financial aid, housing, money management, and transportation

We help people create a behavior management plan to support themselves or someone they care for in changing behaviors related to an illness or disability. This plan is made together during person-centered planning and is reviewed regularly by a team of specialists to make sure it works well, treats everyone with respect, and continues to meet each individual's needs.

Case Management at Riverwood Center helps adults build independence and confidence while managing their mental health and life challenges. It offers ongoing, coordinated care as a key part of treatment, making sure you have the support you need every step of the way.

Our Case Managers work with you to understand your needs and connect you to local resources that can help. This may include support with finances, food, clothing, housing, medical and dental care, transportation, social connections, and therapy. We also assist people who are in hospitals, jail, or other restricted settings.

Because everyone’s situation is unique, Case Management services are tailored to your needs and can take place in an office or out in the community. No two journeys are the same—but we’re here to walk alongside you and guide you toward a healthier future.

Riverwood Center offers hospital services to help stabilize someone who is experiencing a big change in their symptoms or going through a mental health emergency. Community hospital services are provided in licensed psychiatric hospitals or in licensed psychiatric units of general hospitals.

Community Living Supports (CLS) are services provided by Riverwood Center specially trained staff that help adults with serious mental illness live independently and participate actively in their community. The activities are based on the individual’s goals, choices and priorities as identified through an individual plan of service and may be provided in the adult's home or in their community.

An individual may get the following supports:

• Cooking meals
• Doing laundry
• Regular and deep cleaning of the home
• Help with daily tasks like bathing, eating, dressing, and personal care
• Shopping for groceries and other daily needs
• Getting involved in social and community activities
• Managing money
• Providing non-medical support
• Building and maintaining relationships
• Providing transportation to and from activities and home
• Joining in community events and recreational activities
• Going to medical appointments
• Getting necessary items and non-medical services
• Reminding and checking on medication use

We offer short-term care in a safe, home-like setting for people going through a mental health crisis who don’t need to be in the hospital. These licensed residential programs provide support and stability until an individual can return home or move to another safe place.

Supported Employment helps those who are overcoming the challenges that a mental illness can have when finding and retaining a job. Riverwood Center Employment Specialist guide individuals through the job search process to assist individuals with finding competitive employment that meets their needs and preferences. Employment Specialist continue to work with individuals after a job is obtained, by providing on the job and follow along supports as needed, until individuals feel comfortable to work independently and graduate from services.

Supported Employment offers assistance to individuals looking to further their career by helping individuals explore educational and vocational opportunities in their communities.

At Riverwood Center, we work with you and your family over time to build skills that make it easier to manage a serious mental illness. Under Family Psychoeducation, families can join other multi-family groups to share ideas and solve problems together, or meet one-on-one as a single family. “Family” means anyone who helps and supports you—not just relatives.

At Riverwood Center, we care for the whole person—because your mental health and physical health are connected. Our health services include check-ups, treatment, and professional monitoring for health conditions that are related to or affected by your mental health. We work alongside your primary care doctor, who will treat any other health needs you may have, to make sure you get complete, coordinated care.

At Riverwood Center, nursing home and skilled medical care facility residents can reach out to us for mental health concerns. We review each resident’s needs for mental health care and how well they are responding to treatment. We also work closely with nursing home and skilled medical care staff, offering consultations and guidance to support the resident’s emotional well-being. Our goal is to make sure each resident gets the right care, feels supported, and has the best possible quality of life.

Our Outpatient Therapy team is here to support individuals facing challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, psychosis, and co-occurring disorders. We take a person-centered approach, creating personalized goals and strategies that reflect each individual’s unique needs and strengths. Services are offered in both individual and group settings, providing a safe, supportive space for healing and growth.

At Riverwood Center, our adult peer support services are provided by people who have faced similar challenges with mental health or substance use. Because they have “been there,” they understand what you’re going through and can offer unique support, strength, and hope. By sharing their own recovery stories, Peer Support Specialists help you grow, improve your well-being, and work toward recovery.

These services, which can include drop-in centers, are entirely run by people who also use community mental health services. They can help with practical needs like food, clothing, housing, and social connections, as well as provide encouragement to start or continue mental health treatment. Peer Support Specialists walk alongside you in your personal journey, offering understanding and guidance from someone who truly gets it.

At Riverwood Center, our psychiatric care includes evaluations, treatment planning, and ongoing monitoring of psychiatric services and medications for adults with serious or long-term mental health conditions. Care is provided by psychiatric doctors and nurse practitioners who work closely with you to manage symptoms and support recovery. These services are coordinated with other Riverwood Center and local community programs to ensure you receive complete, well-rounded care.

At Riverwood Center, we offer different types of residential support—ranging from staff visits to help you live in your own home to full-time care in a structured group home setting. The level of support you receive is based on your individual needs. Our Supports Coordinators will work with you to explore options and make sure you can live as independently as possible in the least restrictive, most comfortable setting for you.

Respite care with Riverwood Center offers short-term support so individuals can remain in their own homes while giving family members or primary caregivers a much-needed break. This service helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and support a healthy, balanced home environment.

At Riverwood Center, we believe that self-determination is a vital part of your mental health and well-being. Our self-determination services are designed to give you greater choice, control, and flexibility in your care. This means you can play an active role in creating your own person-centered plan, selecting the services and supports that best fit your needs and goals. We’re here to empower you to make decisions about your treatment, manage your own services and budget (when eligible), and build the skills and confidence you need to live life on your own terms. With Riverwood Center’s support, self-determination puts you at the center of your care—every step of the way.

Under Self-Determination, you can hire your own workers and manage your services within a set budget.

• You have choice and control over your services.
• Your Case Manager/Supports Coordinator supports you to manage the services you choose.
• You are the employer of record with a Fiscal Intermediary (someone who pays your worker(s) for services).
• You directly hire, fire and supervise your workers.
• You set your workers' schedule.
• You decide what to pay your workers (within Riverwood Center's rate).

How does Self-Determination work?

• You make choices about your goals when creating your Person-Centered Plan.
• You determine who you want to help you reach your goals.
• Your family and friends can help you with decisions to make sure that your health and safety needs are met.
• After you have a plan, we will develop a budget based on those services.
• You manage your individual budget (with help from your Case Manager/Supports Coordinator and Fiscal Intermediary).

How do you begin Self-Determination?

It starts with your Person-Centered Plan. At your next Person-Centered Plan meeting, tell your Riverwood Center Case Manager or Supports Coordinator that you are interested in Self-Determination. You can also contact our Self-Determination Coordinator at 269-934-1655.

Important to know:

Medicaid rules still apply under Self-Determination. That means:

• Services must be medically necessary:
  • The kind, amount and length of service must be supported by your condition.
  • Your condition would worsen without the services.
  • All other natural and community supports must be used before Medicaid will pay for a service.
  • Services must be supported by documentation.
• The services provided must match what is in your Person-Centered Plan.
• The staff you choose to hire must meet the minimum Medicaid requirements:
  • At least 18 years old
  • Able to prevent transmission of any communicable disease from self to others
  • Able to communicate clearly with you and Riverwood Center staff
  • Able to report on activities performed
  • In good standing with the law according to the MDCH/PIHP contract
  • Complete required trainings, which may vary based on the type of services being provided