This examination of the use of telecommunications systems in the health care field in Canada notes that the use of such systems to assist in the delivery of health care at a distance is critical to the remote and isolated regions of the country. The report begins by reviewing the development of 'telemedicine' or 'telehealth' systems using various…

This paper outlines selected differences between the United States and Latin America health care systems as they relate to primary mental health care. It notes that historically both the United States and Latin America have relied on custodial psychiatric hospitals. The alternative of community care for psychiatric patients is described as it is…

To examine alternatives to nursing home care, states have been testing home and community-based services under the Medicaid program. Information on the operations of the state projects will be vital to designing cost-effective alternative services in the future. The General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed state reports to see if accurate,…

Results are reported of a pilot study to determine the effectiveness of a tracking program to maintain high risk infants in continuing health care, determine health and developmental outcomes, and survey the use of community resources in this population. Subjects were 766 infants from six participating hospitals in two Washington counties, one of…

Examines the role of the school nurse and concludes that she should not be responsible to the principal, as she is in most school systems today. Instead, she should be responsible to medical management, preferably under the jurisdiction and fiscal control of the board of health. (Author/HMV)

This resource manual is designed to assist new and veteran board members in becoming effective and meaningful contributors to the community mental health center (CMHC) program. The materials summarize the growth and development of the CMHC concept and the services required by law and address the process of building and organizing the…

Two resource centers were funded by the Illinois Alcoholism Prevention Initiative to facilitate primary prevention and health promotion efforts at the local level. Located in DeKalb and Springfield, the centers assisted the Illinois State Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Division of Alcoholism in building a body of…

The mental health needs and services available in the United States were investigated by the President's Commission on Mental Health. Results indicated that: (1) mental health services are primarily located in urban areas; (2) the needs of racial and cultural minorities, children, adolescents, and older adults are not being met; (3) national…

There is evidence that informal caregiving systems, called natural helping networks, already carry much of the service load of community mental health services, and need to be strengthened to provide even more. Social network analysis is a useful tool for understanding how these informal mechanisms operate, as well as the way in which some…

This paper describes a project which is attempting to strengthen existing mental health programs and develop new forms of support for rural children, since current programs are limited by a scarcity of funds, trained personnel, and supportive services. The setting of the project is a three-county area in Southwestern Pennsylvania which has been…

These three booklets present information about selected aspects of the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program. A brief history of the development of the EPSDT program, a description of administrative structure at the national, state and local levels, and a description of the lifestyle typical of many EPSDT…

The Governor's Task Force on the Mental Health of Juvenile Offenders in the state of Pennsylvania conducted a statewide survey of facilities for the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age. The Task Force surveyed mental hospitals, community-based services, private psychiatric treatment centers, youth…

The materials contained in these hearings represent the statements of witnesses before one of the subcommittees of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives. Witnesses include members of Congress, a pediatrician from John Hopkins School of Medicine, HEW Secretary Califano, R. Sargent Shriver, and various…

The two-year process of establishing and implementing a by-mail outcome evaluation system in a community mental health center is described. The effect of active executive leadership and the subsequent effects of staff cooperation on client participation rates are discussed, as well as specific responsibilities of the program manager. Illustrative…

This paper addresses health and social issues as well as other socioeconomic problems which affect the black family, and the development of appropriate policy and programs to deal with those problems. Data on infant mortality, life expectancy, maternal mortality, physician and dental visits, and some selected death rates from specific causes are…