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June 20, 2023Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen’s Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), is an evidence-based practice that offers person-centered, recovery-based care in community-based settings to individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen operates three PACT Teams which cover all of Middlesex County.
This yearly event gets PACT participants together and gives them an opportunity to socialize and meet others within the PACT program. Recreational and social support is one of the many services the PACT program provides, and the annual Olympic event is a part of that.
Rose Bohar, PACT Team Leader in East Brunswick, loves the Olympics, as “the games provide a day of fun for consumers.” The PACT program members from Perth Amboy were dressed in blue, members from the East Brunswick program were in purple and New Brunswick consumers sported red t-shirts.
As consumers arrived, t-shirts were handed out and consumers of the program were given the opportunity to decorate them, an opportunity Ana Isa Figueiredo, PACT Team Leader for Perth Amboy enjoys because she loves watching people have fun and forget about their problems for the day.
PACT consumer Johnny has been with the program for about 30 years. He lives in Perth Amboy, but belongs to the New Brunswick PACT team. He spoke about how much the PACT program has helped him in so many ways. “I got involved when I was in the hospital,” Johnny says. They’ve helped me with my resume, they helped me get a job, and even with housing. They were there when I needed them.” Johhny even went on to say he loves all of the activities the PACT program has for socialization like the movies, the Olympics of course, and he even had a big smile on his face when he talked about the Christmas party.
While music played in the background, consumers cheered for their teammates as they participated in events such as a water balloon toss, corn hole, soccer and bocce ball. AnnMarie Costantini, PACT Director, appreciates the events because her favorite part of the PACT Olympics is “watching the participants have fun competing for their teams.”
PACT consumers continued to have some friendly competition and then took a break for lunch. Each team’s scores were recorded and at the end of all the events a winner was chosen based on points. Team East Brunswick took first place and were very excited about it. Team New Brunswick came in second place and team Perth Amboy came in third place. For those participants who did not want to partake in the physical sports, a game of bingo took place under a tent and prizes were given out to those who won.
“I love working in PACT,” said Costantini, who has served as PACT Director for 10 years. “Seeing the impact we make on the lives of our consumers is very rewarding. The teamwork required in PACT is also wonderful. At times the work can be demanding, but because we follow a team model, there is always someone to step in and help.”
Costantini and the rest of the PACT staff all agree that the success of the PACT program comes from support, particularly “support of the agency and specifically the executive team. Everyone understands what an important program PACT is and they allow us to do whatever it takes to make our consumers’ lives better.”
Bohar added, “a cohesive team approach,” and Figueiredo says “the commitment of the staff, management, and agency” helps make the program successful.
PACT program participants must be 18 years of age or older. They must have serious mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis for at least 12 months, psychiatric/mental health diagnosis such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder. They need to have had at least two psychiatric hospitalizations in the 18 months prior to admission and demonstrated lack of benefit from or refusal to participate in a less intensive treatment modality.
The PACT program for Middlesex County is an initiative funded through the State of New Jersey that serves persons in the community with serious and persistent mental illness. PACT services include, Crisis Assessment and Intervention, Psychiatric Assessment/Evaluation, Substance Abuse Counseling, Individual and Group Counseling, Medication Administration and Management.
The PACT program also assists clients with transportation when needed, employment, housing assistance and referrals, health and nutrition education and money management. The PACT teams are available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week and also can help clients with Family and Social Network Support as well as Legal Assistance and Referrals.
For more information about Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, the PACT program, and employment opportunities with the PACT program, please visit ccdom.org
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Workman is the Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations
