The Rehabilitation Project of the Massachusetts Mental Health Center has been based on the conceptions that mentally ill patients have untapped potentialities for successful adjustment, and that optimal work in the field would require mobilization of patients, hospital and community resources in a comprehensive effort.The introduction of a new program requiring close collaboration of many services and disciplines has had a noticeable impact on hospital structure. Some role groups, especially psychiatrists and social workers, appear to be threatened by the new emphasis. Other role groups such as nurse, occupational and industrial therapists, have enjoyed a reinforcement of their status, and increased value seems to be attached to their functions.The experiences thus far with day hospital, halfway houses and social therapeutic clubs indicates that these methods have specific value in selected cases. Intensive investigation is underway to determine optimum relationship between the special facilities and hospital organization, degree of autonomy needed by patients, and factors determining success or failure of patients in ultizing different rehabilitative procedures.Abstract Teaser