An innovative approach to delivering health care is being developed in several Ontario (Canada) communities. This report describes the initial framework for quality and evaluation for a comprehensive health organization (CHO). As CHOs become operational, there is great opportunity to develop a comprehensive approach to quality and evaluation. (SLD)

Notes that, despite changed goals of mental health treatment for inmates, some prison treatment programs still evaluate effects in terms of adjustment indicators. Discusses and critiques proposals in Ohio to use adjustment indicators as outcome measures for new treatment program for mentally ill inmates. Discusses proper outcome measures for…

Studied health screening methods of schools in mid-Missouri. Found significant differences between rural and urban schools in terms of number of school nurses employed and percentage of schools screening in all areas studied: physical assessment, vision, hearing, scoliosis, and dental. Recommends improved health screenings in rural schools. (KS)

Rural people constitute about one-fourth of the U.S. population; their special mental health needs have largely been neglected. Psychologists are needed to practice in rural areas, to develop rural service models, and to support the development of state and federal policies that address rural needs. (DM)

Eight papers on multisite evaluation are presented. Topics include organizational and methodological issues, program theory, coordination of staffing, and the program review team approach. Programs and policies evaluated include those focusing on adult day health care, spousal assault, mental health, job-training for single mothers, criminal…

Responses of 100 mental health and mental retardation professionals to a questionnaire concerning the concept of age appropriateness in services for people with mental retardation showed that, although most respondents believed in the concept's importance in treatment success, they differed on definitions and applications of the concept. (DB)

Reviews the systemic and philosophical problems surrounding government funding for behavioral research. Discusses the relationship between Congress and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), lists specific requests to NIH, and prognosticates the future of behavioral-research funding. (EMK)

Provides suggestions for phases and objectives for quality assurance (QA) programs in expanded school mental health programs. Suggests that important QA activities include examining staff training activities, assessment of stakeholder perceptions of services, conducting satisfaction surveys, examining therapy process, and investigating treatment…

Reports on efforts at several universities to encourage more male students to use student health services, including establishment of male-only health clinics. Programs at the University of Colorado (Boulder), San Francisco State University (California), University of Rochester (New York), and Tulane University (Louisiana) are noted. (DB)

Studies linkages between mental and general health care with mental health staff in rural health centers. Staff identified roles, benefits, and barriers to linkages. Benefits included increased access; coordination; promotion of more holistic sense of health care. Barriers were lack of space, differences among health disciplines, and…

This study demonstrates the usefulness of cluster analytic patterns of care in a sample of 979 children receiving federal mental health services. Six patterns were identified. These service-utilization clusters provide a useful and easily understood way to summarize children's quantity of use of various mental health services. (SLD)

Examines the psychosocial adjustment issues encountered by Cambodian refugee women. Presents a discussion on premigration and postmigration challenges as well as a discussion on how premigration trauma experiences impact postmigration adjustment. Discusses implications for multicultural counseling and presents recommendations for mental health…

Examines the policies and procedures that home health care agencies have developed to handle incapacitated patients and life-sustaining treatment decisions. Although most directors, staff, and patients agree that patients know their legal rights, only 67% of agencies reported having existing policies on advance directives, and only 41.5% had…

Examines the application of public health science to the counseling profession. Specifically, reviews the public-health practices of prevention and epidemiology for their applicability to the field of counseling. Provides evidence of the counseling professions' involvement in the prevention research field through an examination of recent major…

Many individuals with psychiatric disabilities experience the onset of mental illness in young adulthood. Supported education programs have arisen as a psychosocial rehabilitation intervention since many of these individuals do not pursue higher education. Article describes the Michigan Supported Education Research project, and discusses the…