Assertive Community Treatment

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a community-based program created to address the mental health needs of juvenile offenders and their families. It is estimated that 50–75 percent of incarcerated youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Psychiatric conditions often contribute to the offenses and may interfere with rehabilitation. Many of these youth continue to enter and remain involved in the juvenile justice system due to inaccessibility of mental health services and a comprehensive treatment plan. ACT utilizes a collaborative, wraparound approach to treatment that operates across the mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare and education systems. The ACT program is a partnership between Sunny Hills Services, Sonoma County Juvenile Probation, Sonoma County Juvenile Court and Sonoma County Department of Health Services, Mental Health Division.

Program Director
Ariel Spindell, MFT

Ariel began his career as a counselor at the Devereaux Institute for developmentally disabled and severely emotionally disturbed children while he was working towards his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Psychology and Sociology. He has worked as a second and third grade teacher, assisting in the design and teaching of an advanced Montessori School curriculum. He has also worked as an assistant supervisor and counselor with high functioning developmentally disabled adults through the Marin-based agency, Lifehouse. While working towards his master’s degree, he interned at the Family Service Agency of Marin, serving children and families in Marin City. He completed his internship at Project Destiny, providing individual and family therapy. Ariel also served as a case manager for at-risk children and their families, providing wraparound services in a federally funded pilot program. He received his California license in Marriage Family Therapy in 2005.