The locus of mental health care for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness continues to shift from inpatient units to outpatient and community services. Among community-based approaches, assertive community treatment (ACT) teams have demonstrated clinical and cost effectiveness in state and federal public systems. However, public…

In an increasingly cost-conscious health care environment, average length of hospital stay has decreased. Although psychiatric inpatient treatment is largely exempt from the constraints of the Medicare diagnosis related groups (DRG's), length of stay for geropsychiatric hospital services has decreased also. A trend toward higher rates of early…

Although the occurrence of medical illnesses in psychiatric patients is quite high, medical illnesses manifested by psychiatric symptoms are often overlooked. The higher mortality rates among psychiatric patients when compared to the general population may be a reflection of neglect or inadequate treatment of the psychiatric patients' medical…

In Maine a program was initiated to integrate substance abuse services in community health center settings in order that more individuals and their families who are affected by chemical dependency could be reached and treated effectively. Integration was defined as the degree to which substance abuse services addressed the perceived community need…

This paper describes the goals and implementation of a program which trains pediatricians in child development at Boston Children's Hospital. The program emphasizes an understanding of "normal" child development, rather than the pathological model with which most pediatricians are familiar. Pediatricians are encouraged to use their…

Community Based Consultation, a consultation/education model appropriate for use in CMHC's and mental health departments is described. The model is being implemented by a Community Services Team of a rural mental health department. Appropriate strategies, a conceptualization of the community along power dimensions, a decision-making structure for…

Although it is estimated that half of all women will experience some form of domestic abuse during their lifetimes, participant recruitment in studies to learn about such abuse is difficult. The first step for the researcher is to develop a collaborative community partnership with domestic violence services. This will provide first-hand knowledge…

Community health nursing curriculum components in a sample of baccalaureate nursing programs were investigated. Questionnaires were sent to a sample of 12 National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited, generic, baccalaureate nursing programs representative of the four NLN regions in the United States. Community health nursing content in theory…

Individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related conditions (ARC) need continual care and support, at a level which can severely tax the health resources of a community. Public health nursing should have a central role in the effective and efficient response to this devastating problem. Since the early stages of the AIDS…

This technical report describes the computerized information management system used at the Community Care Organization for Dependent Adults (CCODA) of the On Lok Senior Health Services in San Francisco's Chinatown (California). A background perspective on information systems in business, government, hospitals, and local community service agencies…

A plan was developed to evaluate the organizational interchanges between local school districts and community mental health centers. The objective was to identify and describe the organizational interchanges, to assess interface satisfaction, and to identify innovative planning, program, or administrative linkages for potential replication. Data…

A model for assessing the needs of the rural elderly based on the goal of empowerment is described and evaluated through a case study in Pennsylvania. Overall, the 63 community workers positively evaluated the needs assessment data derived through the model. Ways to enhance the model are discussed. (SLD)

The Health Systems Agencies created to plan and coordinate the development of health care systems in 205 health service areas across the states have a need to be legitimized and operationalized in community contexts in order to achieve their purpose. Community psychologists have both research and consultation roles to play in contributing to…

This presentation will report on the findings of the evaluation of Project SOBEIT a multi-school initiative focused on building partnerships between schools, law enforcement, and community mental health agencies. Guided by a process, context, outcomes, and sustainability framework and grounded in the understanding of the impact of change theory on…

HIV/AIDS are affecting increasingly complex, more diverse populations, particularly communities of color. Despite National prevention efforts designed to speak to marginal experience, these communities continue to be disproportionately affected, especially in rural areas of the country which are difficult to access with communication about HIV. A…