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)

Presents the case study of a community mental health agency which was provided consultation, technical assistance, and increased funding to facilitate implementing an assertive community treatment program for the long-term mentally disabled as an alternative to hospitalization. Lists barriers encountered and reports an analysis of the community…

Discusses these trends in mental health services: cost control and financial retrenchment, policy influence and funding, shift of long-term care responsibility, expansion of private health care market interest, and change in characteristics of mentally ill. Recommends information enhancements, market potentials, alternative organizational…

Surveyed all federally funded community mental health centers to assess the training and education of former and incumbent directors, and gather their recommendations for training and education of successors. Data suggested incumbent directors have more managerial skills than predecessors; current directors feel the need for additional training.…