Outlines the model used to develop and analyze the data needed for the mental health component of a health system plan required under Public Law 93-641. Includes a review of existing utilization patterns, an assessment of community levels of risk, and a forecast of the need for mental health services. (Author)

Explores the administrative dilemmas of the imbalance between mental health needs of the elderly and funding for mental health programs to serve them. Discusses possible approaches to the problem. (Author/BH)

Examines some of the problems facing black women mental health administrators and proposes some approaches to them. (MCF)

Identifies the criteria for legally safe programs. Lists ways to assess the status of one's own program relative to those criteria and discusses strategies to improve the organization's performance. (Author/BH)

Reviews the history of state mental health planning from the federal perspective, discusses some state objectives for comprehensive planning, and presents a participatory model for plan development. Demonstrates how the model can be used to produce a mental health plan that is a viable management tool fulfilling many state objectives. (Author/BH)

To represent adequately the general public interest, it is crucial that the quality of citizen participation on boards of directors of community mental health agencies be improved. This can be achieved by providing board members, through training, with appropriate knowledge and skills. This article describes one such training program. (Author)

Identifies and discusses major issues for enhancing mental health services for children and adolescents, including creating a balance between different types of services, reducing reliance on residential treatment, improving coordination of children's services, creating a public sector-private advocate partnership, establishing community-based…

Discusses "health psychology," a movement to integrate health and mental health services, using vehicles from traditional mental health services. Describes examples of cost-effective mental health services in health care delivery and offers potential models for integration. (Author/ABB)

Compares and contrasts characteristics of the mental health system and the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) service system; examines environmental, intraorganizational, and interorganizational variables as they pertain to potential for linkages between mental health and VR providers; and discusses implications for improved integration of treatment…

The term "organization development" (OD) encompasses techniques developed to facilitate communication and collaborative problem solving in work groups. This discussion focuses on defining OD, describing its current use in mental health and human service organizations, and assessing potential payoffs and disadvantages of implementing OD programs in…

Case managers, experienced senior members of the system, have assessment, disposition, and advocacy functions for each client as well as responsibility for policy decisions for the organization. Treatment and administrative considerations of such an approach are explicated, and problems raised by the model are explored.

Describes three organizational models for staffing--rational, political, and standards--typically seen in mental health programs. Examines who is hired and why in terms of the characteristics of each model. Provides a summary of decision guidelines for staffing and suggestions for formulating a staffing strategy. (Author/ABB)

Presents overview of four discussion groups' reactions to Tischler's "Critical Issue Paper 2: Meeting Patient Needs in the 1990's." Summarizes recommendations concerning system challenges and the administrator's role, administrator training, technical assistance, and research needs. (ABL)

Presents summary of group discussions on Surles'"Critical Issue Paper 4: Changing Organizational Structures and Relationships in Community Mental Health." Reveals general agreement with Surles. Suggests areas of beneficial preservice and inservice training for administrators. Recommends areas of research needs. (ABL)

Factor analysis of 556 responses to survey of mental health workers distinguished four factors involved in workers' attitudes about their performance ratings: objective validity, negative emotional response, supervisory direction, and incentives. Results showed that state workers did not view their present performance ratings, based on worker…