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…

A pilot study testing the feasability of using the Reflotron blood analyzer for cholestrol screening in the school environment found that the instrument was easy to use and inexpensive. Its quick results allowed for immediate counseling and referral. (CB)

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…

Describes the Carolina Healthstyle program in school worksites as it is being implemented by one pilot school district. Briefly discusses organizational funding and evaluation of the overall state employee wellness program. (JOW)

In the first year of the "Go for Health" project, organizational innovations were implemented to facilitate change in school lunch, physical education, and classroom health education in support of healthful student diet and physical activities. Increased participation in fitness activities resulted. (JOW)

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)

Epidemiology has been used historically to reduce the incidence of communicable diseases and is used presently to study chronic conditions, environmental conditions, and social conditions. Its analytical method is necessary for health educators to evaluate tactics and recommend programs. (MT)

Homebound elderly adults experience more nutrition-related problems than their active age peers. This paper reports on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a demonstration program for training social workers serving the homebound in a large urban area agency on aging. Evaluations indicated that the training was favorably received and…

A health education program for low-income, inner-city children with asthma was transferred from a clinical setting to the public schools. The program's emphasis placed responsibility on the child rather than the parent, making it independent of direct parental involvement. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

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)