The Foster Community: A Partnership in Psychiatric Rehabilitation
ALI KESKINER M.D.1,
MARILYN J. ZALCMAN M.S.W.2,
EMILY H. RUPPERT M.S.W.3, , and
GEORGE A. ULETT M.D., PH.D.4
1 Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Foster Community Project, Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry and the St. Louis State Hospital, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
2 Research and Program Development Coordinator for the project, Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry and the St. Louis State Hospital, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
3 Associate Director of the project, Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry and the St. Louis State Hospital, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
4 Professor and Chairman, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry, and Director, Missouri Division of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry and the St. Louis State Hospital, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
While halfway house and foster care programs have returned many chronic mental patients from the state hospital to the community, a number of problems including the patients' lack of acceptance by community residents and the perpetuation of chronicity have remained. Missouri's Foster Community Project has attacked such problems by instituting foster care programs in two rural towns that involve collaboration between state hospital staff and community residents. Initial results, including rehabilitative aspects, appear promising.
