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)

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)

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)

Discusses need for systems-based approach to quality assurance in mental health services, which can provide useful information to administrators and practitioners as they work to maintain or improve quality of care provided to patients. Introduces generic model for monitoring and evaluating quality of care and discusses potential barriers to its…

This paper presents an evaluation model for a partial hospitalization program. The evaluation instrument, the Functional Baseline System (FBS), is presented with its use in assessing program effectiveness and efficiency. (Author)

Describes specific factors contributing to questionable validity and reliability of cost information used by mental health administrators. Presents a case study in which 17 different cost figures were derived for a single program using various methods currently employed. Discusses implications of nonuniform cost data. (Author/RC)

Proposes a framework for assessing how human service delivery systems function. Identifies factors that influence the ability of agencies to operate as a unified system. Provides an accurate picture of how services are delivered to target populations, and why various systems function as they do. (Author/JAC)

Summarizes conference proceedings and provides an overview of the nature and key issues of cut-back management in community mental health services. Discusses leadership and management, leadership strategies and values, the management of organizational resource reduction applied to human services, the process of reorganization, and…