This bulletin is part of a series that presents the results of the Northwestern Juvenile Project--a longitudinal study of youth detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, IL. The authors examine youth's perceptions of barriers to mental health services, focusing on youth with alcohol, drug, and mental health…

This article describes a mental health evidence based practice, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). While ACT has scientific support, it has not been rigorously tested for persons with a severe mental illness and repeated forensic involvement. This article provides preliminary evidence that ACT is best suited for reentry into the mental health…

In the wake of a U.S. Justice Department investigation that found widespread use of excessive force by staff at upstate psychiatric care facilities for mentally ill children, this new edition of Child Welfare Watch identifies shortcomings in mental health services and explores possible solutions, including the expansion of alternatives to…

This report presents information on Wisconsin state legislation dealing with mental health issues. Part I provides descriptions of key provisions of four 1987 state senate bills. Part II reviews the activities of the Wisconsin State Legislative Council's Special Committee on Mental Health Issues. Parts III, IV, V, and VI describe the background…

The laws in many States concerning institutional commitment for mental health problems are antiquated in many ways. This paper, one of a series sponsored by the governor's office of education and training, presents the Mississippi law on the subject; discusses the statutory laws in selected States; examines significant case law in Mississippi and…

Findings suggest there are significant systemic relationships between major demographic trends in the United States and the rate of mental hospitalization. Macrosocial trends and changes can have important impacts on social work practice, and these impacts can make an important contribution to social policy and social work program planning.…

Prisons are increasingly being filled with inmates who suffer from mental illness. This paper examines the prevalence of mental illness in American jails and prisons, the duty government and society has to provide appropriate mental health treatment, and the implications for inmate safety, costs, recidivism, and community reintegration if…

Describes off-site multi-faceted (community contact, group and individual treatment, and creative art) day treatment program for over 300 mentally impaired nursing home residents from 22 separate skilled or intermediate nursing facilities. Provides case illustrations. (Author/ABL)

This report was written for the Advisory Committee on Mentally Ill Inmates of the Wisconsin State Legislative Council's Special Committee on Mental Health Issues. It describes mental health services to inmates of Wisconsin's state prisons. Part I describes the organization of state level responsibilities for corrections, including the state…

Results indicated that participants in an in-hospital work-therapy program, randomly selected patients in Fort Logan Mental Health Center, had longer stays in both intensive treatment and total hospitalization and had more readmissions to Fort Logan than nonparticipants. Reprints available from authors at Fort Logan Mental Health Center, Denver,…

Over the past two decades, the chronic mentally ill elderly have begun to receive care in residential health care facilities (RHCF) such as domiciliary care, intermediate care, and skilled nursing facilities. While there is justification for this increase, as the mentally ill elderly also present with significant physical illnesses, there are…

Little is presently known of the implications and consequences of rehospitalizations of former mental patients. This research attempts to assess the consequences of rehospitalization for the patient, his family and for the professional (his psychiatric social worker) who attempted to serve him while he lived in the community. It examines the ways…

Fundamental changes in public attitudes toward the mentally ill are needed if progress in better treatment is to really continue within this country. (Editor)

This article presents an ethical analysis of the important issues surrounding the involuntary institutionalization of people who are homeless and mentally ill (HMI) in the United States. The legal, economic, and moral implications of state-sponsored involuntary institutionalization of people who are HMI are considered. An ethical decision-making…