An appreciation of the environmental, economic, and cultural stresses in black communities should lead community mental health programs to try to change adverse social conditions as well as treat the symptoms of ill health. (Author)

The community, state mental hospitals, and a community mental health center work together to provide an environment conducive to the continued well being of chronic mental patients in an area of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The authors describe a program that involves day care centers and the patients' everyday living. (Author)

Describes effort of mental health center staff to implement non-traditional programming for women in situational life crises. Successes in the work have helped overcome some objections to special approaches to women. Projects have community interest and support, have answered many unmet needs of women, and have enhanced service delivery.…

To understand the role of the social worker in rural mental heatlh services a survey of mental health staff in one rural area was conducted, examining the interrelationships among education, perceived levels of knowledge, and clinical functions. Results indicate bachelors' level social workers serve generalist functions while masters' level social…

Mentally retarded citizens have been denied their human and civil rights, not only by the public, but by professionals--including social workers. The author claims that most programs for the mentally retarded are, at best, dehumanizing. Professionals have an ethical obligation to refuse to refer children to such programs. (Author)

Studied 33 community mental health centers to determine what types of organizational variables and ideological factors might affect whether a community health center conducted prevention programs. Results indicated organizational support and ideological support of mental health professionals were critical variables for prevention programs.…

The author discusses the emotional issues that confront stepparents and stepchildren and describes a program to help stepparents deal with these issues and other conflicts. She also explores the myths of instant adjustment and recreated nuclear families and the realities of the stepparent-stepchild relationship. (Author/BEF)

Describes an approach used by a community mental health district to (1) assess its current services for sexual-minority clients (gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals), (2) develop recommendations for more appropriate staffing and staff development, and (3) implement a plan of community outreach and professional training. (Author/ABB)

Ninety-three clients were interviewed for their reactions to a community mental health outreach program. The results indicate that for the majority this typical program met their perceived needs. (Author)

Focuses on the development and implementation of a treatment model for the reintegration of chronically disturbed psychiatric patients into community living. The model operates within the context of an interdisciplinary team structure and has as its central component aggressive outreach and intensive support as determined by the patient's needs.…

The social work clinician is witnessing among children and youths a sharpening awareness of possible nuclear catastrophe. Emerging research suggests that this concern reflects a pervasive preoccupation among youth. What adults might do until more definitive knowledge arises is discussed. (Author/ABB)

This critical review of the 1961 report of the Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health concludes that the report and its adherents promised more than could be delivered and its claims regarding community mental health could not be supported by the available data. (Author)

Presents a nonbureaucratic model of mental health service delivery: the Family Life Center in Columbia, Maryland. Describes services through three programs: a counseling service, community services, and an information and referral service. Professional volunteers work with clients referred by counseling coordinators. Discusses implications for…

School integration efforts in recent decades have highlighted the prevalence of racial friction in the public schools. A mental health consultation project developed in Pittsburgh confronted the issue of racial and cultural differences head-on in an attempt to effect social change in the schools. (Author)

Examines job-related, client-perpetrated threats or physical violence against social workers in general, and community outreach mental health professionals in particular. Highlights the critical role of supervisors and administrators in developing proactive prevention and postincident response policies and procedures that create an organizational…