Hot Topics in Mental Health & Law: Assisted Outpatient Treatment series
Thursday, December 10, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has been studied for decades, yet translating research findings into real-world understanding of its effectiveness is not always straightforward. Kiersten Jeske, PhD, will discuss the challenges inherent to studying AOT, including methodological limitations and generalizability of findings across different implementation contexts. She will explore how researchers have navigated these challenges over time to build our existing understanding of AOT and synthesize s what the literature can tell us about treatment engagement, clinical functioning, and social functioning. Dr. Jeske will speak to future directions in research in light of remaining gaps and ongoing challenges, including how research findings are interpreted in the longstanding debate of AOT’s place in the mental health care continuum. The goal of the presentation is to provide participants with a balanced understanding of what current research can, and cannot yet, tell us about AOT.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe key methodological limitations and implementation-related challenges that affect the interpretation and generalizability of AOT research findings.
- Explain how different research approaches have contributed to the current evidence base on AOT, and the strengths and limitations of those approaches.
- Summarize findings from the literature related to AOT outcomes of treatment engagement, clinical functioning, and social functioning.
- Identify evidence gaps and priorities for future AOT research.
About the Speaker
Kiersten Jeske, PhD, is a public health researcher at RTI International. Her research centers on the effectiveness of behavioral health services to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities. She previously led the national, cross-site evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) AOT grant program, conducted in partnership with Duke University and Policy Research Associates for HHS/ASPE’s Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy. Additionally, she has led multiple studies on behavioral health crisis services, including a SAMHSA-funded project to design an evaluation of 988 and the crisis continuum.
Continuing Education
This talk is included in an eight-session webinar series, Hot Topics in Mental Health and Law: Assisted Outpatient Treatment, for which continuing education credits are available. Participants must attend the live session to receive credit.