About MHS Kern ACTions
MHS Kern ACTions was an Assertive Community Treatment Full-Service Partnership operated by Mental Health Systems, Inc., for adults in Bakersfield, California.
The program supported adults living with serious and persistent mental illness, including those with co-occurring substance use needs and justice-system involvement.
It offered an intensive, community-based model designed to reach people who had not responded well to traditional outpatient care, meeting clients where they were, figuratively and literally.
Intensive Community-Based Care
The heart of this program was its high-intensity ACT model, as the highest level of outpatient care available.
Multidisciplinary teams of recovery specialists, case managers, therapists, substance abuse specialists, mental-health nurses and psychiatrists worked together to deliver coordinated support in homes and community settings.
Services included psychiatric assessment, medication management, therapy and drug-and-alcohol counseling.
Using approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy and health education the team addressed underlying mental health and substance use challenges.
The staff also focused on encouraging family and support-system involvement in a culturally sensitive, gender-responsive way.
Wraparound Support
Beyond clinical care the program emphasized whole-person support through case management, housing assistance and linkage to primary care.
Clients received help attending medical appointments and connecting with community resources, ensuring stability alongside treatment.
