Establishing A Practice Theory Of Critical Time Intervention

PI: Fang-pei Chen, M.S.W., Ph.D.
School of Social Work
Columbia University

ESTABLISHING A PRACTICE THEORY OF CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION

Critical Time Intervention (CTI) is a psychosocial intervention to prevent recurrent homelessness among people with severe mental illness by enhancing continuity of care during the transition from institutional to community living. While CTI's structure has been well articulated, questions remain regarding how the model is implemented in various settings. In this grounded theory study, we interviewed 12 workers from 5 service settings to explore their first-hand practice experiences in CTI. Findings show that CTI practices were subject to (a) client conditions, (b) the model design, (c) service settings, and (d) systemic constraints. That is, workers attended to CTI model features and provided personalized care, while, as a transitional model, both ends of the transition - the host setting of CTI and the housing placement for the client - shaped the practices and strategies used to achieve program effects. Findings have significant implications on worker training, model fidelity, and program dissemination and adaptation.