Home intervention for psychosis (HIP): mobile in a multicultural society

H.I.P. is a new mobile assessment and initial treatment team for individuals diagnosed with their first episode of psychosis. This presentation describes critical issues that were addressed in starting this home-based team in a complex multicultural and multiagency North American environment. These include the development of a funding base, the competing goals of primary and secondary prevention of psychosis, the relationship of the mobile team to existing inpatient and clinic-based first episode services, the training of staff, the development of a philosophy of care (case management vs. shared caseload), the marketing of the mobile team to other service providers andmulticultural agencies, and the development of quality improvement indicators. A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of H.I.P. vs. clinic-based services has received funding and will be initiated this year. Data regarding referral sources, appropriateness of referrals, length of stay, client disposition, intensity of treatment, and location of treatment contacts will be used to illustrate how H.I.P. has addressed the critical issues mentioned above.