Assessed the impact of a new clients' rights bill on the functioning of the state mental health system. Reports on specification of those levels of staff role ambiguity and conflict among and between staff and clients that were perceived by staff as caused by the new legislation. (Author)

Studied 33 community mental health centers to determine what types of organizational variables and ideological factors might affect whether a community health center conducted prevention programs. Results indicated organizational support and ideological support of mental health professionals were critical variables for prevention programs.…

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)

The long-term effects of a preschool intervention program for 21 high-risk experimental children were asssessed. The experimental group was superior to that of the placebo control group at follow-up on the criteria measures of behavioral adjustment and achievement. (Author)

Discusses high rate of violence and health problems within Cherokee culture. Alcohol plays a major role in Indian health and social problems. As a response to prevalence of alcohol-related problems, a cultural therapy program was developed. Reinforcement of cultural pride was a primary step in solving problems. (CC)

Examines mental health issues, especially alcoholism, suicide, and social depression, related to the counseling of Black women. Recommends improved mental health services, counselor/clinical training programs, and additional research focusing on the causes of stress among Black women. (Author/MW)

A study determined the levels of treatment satisfaction among community mental health services recipients and if perceptions of treatment satisfaction were the same for both the recipients and the providers. The recipients, mothers of children treated at the unit, were satisfied with the treatment, but the providers perceived their satisfaction as…

Discussed the State of Colorado's introduction of performance contracting into its relationships with community mental health centers. Describes the nature of the contract and its implementation. Particular emphasis is placed on the implications of the contract for program evaluation. (Author)

The establishment of a Board of Certified Professional Counselors increases the professionalism of counselors. It assures the public of the counselor's competence, protects the profession and the counselor, and determines qualification for entrance into the profession. (JAC)

Results of this study indicate that running away occurred more frequently among children referred for mental health services. Behavioral problems identified in this study suggest that running away is symptomatic of psychopathology and maladaption. (Author/NRB)

Reports on the development and implementation of a network of trainer-change agents to improve the quality of services delivered by a state mental health system. The conceptual framework and the central change effort, a training-of-trainers strategy, are described in detail. (SK)

On the basis of information obtained from a study of former mental patients (which was conducted under a research grant from the state of Florida), the authors point out the critical need for more comprehensive management information systems. Twelve specific steps for designing such a system are outlined. (Author/JH)

The author discusses the emotional issues that confront stepparents and stepchildren and describes a program to help stepparents deal with these issues and other conflicts. She also explores the myths of instant adjustment and recreated nuclear families and the realities of the stepparent-stepchild relationship. (Author/BEF)

Because of changes in mental health and rehabilitation services to mentally disabled persons, the primacy of vocational placement has come under scrutiny. Residential placement plays an important role in the client's coping. A new view of the prominence of vocational placement in the context of community adjustment is provided. (Author)

Questionnaires designed to assess subjects' feelings toward treatment in a university mental health program substantiate the assumption that college students can be treated effectively with brief psychotherapy. (MB)