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.

The exploratory visit to recent retirees, an outreach component of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Friendly Visiting Program, was evaluated. A post-test only control group effect study revealed exploratory visits were effective in establishing a link between the program and the retiree. (Author)

Experience of the authors indicates that solo therapists with adequate background in individual and couple therapy, who also have additional training/experience in sex therapy, can provide treatment for sexual dysfunction to student couples in a health service setting with encouraging results. (MB)

Discusses attempts of study groups of women in mental health professions that was instrumental in developing thearetical formulations concerning feminist therapy. From experiences both in the group and with clients, concludes that the profession as a whole must increase its responsiveness to concerns of women and issues of feminist therapy.…

Reviews aftercare for schizophrenic individuals who have been discharged as a result of deinstitutionalization. Focuses on the nature of the problems caused by deinstitutionalization, the professional response, various aftercare milieus, family treatment modalities, and the clinical process. (Author/ABB)

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)

Argues that family therapy is failing to attend to the contexts in which family mental health services are provided. Presents a model for describing the institutional contexts of family mental health treatment in North America, and explores how these contexts influence family treatment, using 3 levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary care.…

Examined mental health service providers' (N=80) evaluation of deaf patients in various programs. Found staff at specialized inpatient mental health programs for the deaf had more positive attitudes than staff serving the general population. Found mental health staff evaluated some deaf patients differently from hearing patients with respect to…

Discusses the development of a training needs assessment instrument for mental health professionals working in corrections, along with the results of the assessment. Provides differences between perceived needs for training and self-expressed knowledge of training topics and areas among various professional personnel, and provides recommendations…

Presents overview of four discussion groups' reactions to Tischler's "Critical Issue Paper 2: Meeting Patient Needs in the 1990's." Summarizes recommendations concerning system challenges and the administrator's role, administrator training, technical assistance, and research needs. (ABL)

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)

Advocates employing former mental patients to staff mental health centers. Reveals evidence that patients can help each other. Reviews the special contributions that former patients can make (e.g., offering a consumer point of view, making appropriate demands, and being a role model). Identifies problems that may be expected. (DMM)

Factor analysis of 556 responses to survey of mental health workers distinguished four factors involved in workers' attitudes about their performance ratings: objective validity, negative emotional response, supervisory direction, and incentives. Results showed that state workers did not view their present performance ratings, based on worker…

Examined interpersonal conflict mode profiles of 202 professional employees from community mental health centers in Alabama and questioned executive directors of the 23 centers on situational aspects related to interpersonal conflict. Results confirmed that functionality of conflict behavior must be judged with respect to outcomes produced from…

Synthesizes the results of studies of case management with case management literature to summarize factors influencing case management services. Discusses characteristics of individuals providing case management, the clients they serve, the design of their jobs, and the services network in which they work. (Author/BH)