In January, 2009, The Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), voluntarily, initiated the Acute Community Support Plan (ACSP) process. Together, OBH and Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) coordinate and facilitate all activities related to the ACSP process.

The ACSP process is a comprehensive support and resource planning process that is driven by a blending of the consumer’s, family’s, and treatment/service coordination team’s preferences, recommendations, and competencies.

The process was designed to emulate the Community Support Plan (CSP) process utilized in the downsizing and closure of Pennsylvania State Mental Hospitals. The process had received positive feedback from consumers, families, peers, and professionals. Follow-up interviews, surveys, and outcomes analyses continue to demonstrate the successes of the CSP process. Like the CSP process, the ACSP process, at its foundation, was designed with the recognition that consumers of mental health services can and desire to participate in their recovery.