Community mental health centers (CMHCs) have made a significant
contribution to making mental health services available to many Americans;
in 1977 they served almost two million people. External fiscal constraints
and internal service and accountability requirements now test the viability
of CMHCs, but the most recent extension of the law allows increased
flexibility on implementation, and the President's Commission on Mental
Health has reinforced the original purpose of CMHCs by calling for an
initiative to give special attention to the needs of children and youth,
the elderly, minorities, the chronically mentally ill, and other
underserved populations and areas.Abstract Teaser