State government at the grass roots: a community relations approach to mental health program development.

Integrating consultation and education and community organization techniques within a community relations framework has proven effective in catalyzing a productive partnership between grass-roots, community leaders and a state mental health program. The programmatic accomplishments-enhanced mental health services for the most vulnerable populations, including the aged, the chronically mentally ill, and high-risk youth, and enhanced community and political support for mental health services, all achieved without increase in state mental health expenditures-validate a methodology which is applicable in a wide variety of mental health settings.