Survival strategies for community mental health services in the 1980s.

Widespread reduction of financial resources has created a growing concern about the survival of community mental health services and their inherent concepts and ideals. To survive and, in some ways, grow, community mental health centers have used strategies such as incorporation, alternative services, innovative funding, and political activities. The authors discuss strategies that focus on the program management aspects of mental health. They theorize that if CMHCs can employ business techniques but retain the values of community mental health, a more efficient, yet still highly principled, system of mental health services can result.