Experience with Community Mental Health Centers
LUCY D. OZARIN M.D.1,
SAUL FELDMAN D.P.A.2, , and
FRED E. SPANER PH.D.3
1 Program Development Officer, Division of Mental Health Service Programs, National Institute of Mental Health, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. 20015
2 Associate Director for Community Mental Health Services, Division of Mental Health Service Programs, National Institute of Mental Health, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. 20015
3 Assistant Chief, Community Mental Health Centers Support Branch, Division of Mental Health Service Programs, National Institute of Mental Health, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. 20015
The authors report on the experiences gleaned from site visits to federally funded mental health centers that are now in operation. Their most important findings were: the formation of public and nonprofit corporations to serve as planning and fiscal agents facilitates the growth of local interagency networks of service, the organizational structure of a center program determines its capability to deliver services, citizen participation is vital for community support and program planning, and manpower utilization is enhanced by the use of auxiliary mental health workers.
