Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:932-935
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
The runaway center as community mental health center
JS Gordon
The runaway centers that evolved in the late 1960s in response to the needs
of troubled young people are fulfilling many of the goals of the community
mental health center (CMHC) movement. These centers provide their young
clients the five basic CMHC services--inpatient services, outpatient
services, emergency services, partial hospitalization, and consultation and
education--in an individualized and economical manner. They can serve as a
model for a variety of community services, such as drop-in centers for
troubled individuals, mediation centers for families, shelters for battered
women, and residences for people suffering an acute psychotic break.
