Pathway Session on Assisted Outpatient Treatment a Success

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, we hosted an informative Pathway Session on how Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) could successfully help struggling families in CT. The reason for the session was that several NCPSG parents have been impacted by a loved one’s serious mental illness, specifically schizophrenia caused by high-potency THC. This is quickly becoming an epidemic in our state. As I mentioned in a previous blogpost, AOT is a helpful tool in states like New York for convincing loved ones to resume their medications and get multiple forms of support. Our guest, Laura Brancato, Esq., has AOT experience as a New York-based Attorney and Advocate with expertise in helping families use AOT as a tool for recovery.

Sadly, CT is one of only two states in the country which hasn’t yet passed an Assisted Outpatient Treatment law. It pains my heart to hear the plights of parents stuck in a downward cycle of treatment and then relapse when a loved one’s lack of insight cause them to go off their prescribed medications. This increases the very real risk of harm to both a son or daughter AND their parents. We hear about this in our support meetings, and in podcasts like the excellent CT-based one called: Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches.

During our Zoom session, Laura defined what AOT is, and how it works in practice in New York state. It’s not a panacea for serious mental illness and addiction, but in many cases it provides the leverage parents need to get their loved ones back on medication and exposed to recovery options from providers that include the judge. The point of AOT is to reduce harm and risk by getting the individual engaged and accountable in an outpatient setting, rather than involuntary commitment.

Loved ones are exposed to trauma when disengaging from treatment, as the police and EMS calls, temporary holds in hospitals, or prison time start to compound. This trauma risk is immediately reduced when a legal team including a judge is responsible for medication compliance, NOT THE FAMILY. An AOT order can also including testing for substance misuse, if that is a historical issue.

The way Laura sees it, the AOT order from a court; guardianship; and support through groups like NAMI’s Family-to-Family Support Groups all add up to reducing the burden on the family. Exposure to significant trauma for family members is very real, when the cycles of medication/non-medication continue and there are no viable options. In my humble opinion, a well-constructed AOT order makes sense over: 1) multiple ER visits; 2) police enforcement and criminal charges; 3) incarceration; 4) homelessness; and 5) expecting unqualified family members to provide mental health resources. Don’t you agree?

Conclusion: I learned a new word during the session with Laura: decompensation. In addition to the risks to family members, without AOT the never-ending cycle of trauma leads to decompensation–the process of a loved one’s mental illness and delusions getting worse and worse. I’m grateful to Laura for sharing how AOT increases access to care, improves outcomes and saves money in the long run.

To view the replay of this session with Laura, just CLICK HERE.