Eligibility for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program

Before referring someone for the AOT program, make sure they meet all eligibility requirements.

To qualify for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), an individual must meet all eligibility requirements. 

To be eligible, a person must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Have a known mental illness (Welfare and Institutions Code §5600.3 (b)(2) and (3)) that is worsening
  • Have clinical determination that they need supervision to survive in the community
  • Have a history of non-compliance with treatment for their mental illness. Their non-compliance resulted in at least 1 of the following:
    • The person needed hospitalization or services in a correctional facility's mental health unit at least twice in the last 3 years.
    • The person's mental illness resulted in violent behavior toward themself or someone else within the last 2 years.
  • Have refused or resisted an offer for treatment and fail to engage in treatment on their own
  • Be likely to benefit from AOT
  • In need of intervention to prevent the illness from worsening and resulting in serious harm to themself or others.

The following must also be true:

  • Participation in AOT would be the least restrictive placement needed to ensure the person's recovery and stability.
Last updated April 18, 2024