The Assisted Outpatient Treatment Services (AOTS) facilitates the Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Law in Somerset County.  This program was created in the county in 2014 from legislation passed in 2009.  All counties in New Jersey, as well as 42 states, have implemented similar programs with successful outcomes.

The Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Law was designed to help those individuals who have a mental illness and meet certain criteria for commitment, but would be best served in the community instead of an inpatient psychiatric hospital. In the past, individuals would either be involuntarily committed to an inpatient setting or discharged into the community independently.  Participation involves having legal status changed and periodic legal reviews in the community.

The AOTS serves as a means to keep an individual in the community with the support of an intensive mental health case management team.  The goal of the AOTS is to provide mental health case management to adults in the least restrictive alternative that is available while ameliorating danger. 

The goal of the program is to connect consumers to mental health services, as well as to other people and organizations that can support their goals.  We seek to support each person’s wellness and recovery in the community.  This could include assisting the consumer with:

• Writing a WRAP(Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and maintaining overall health
• Establishing a Psychiatric Advance Directive
• Transportation training
• Referral to DVRS for  education goals
• Referral to SE for vocational goals
• Medication education and monitoring
• Assistance with living independently
• Assistance reconnecting with family

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (Bridgeway PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.