Deciphering deinstitutionalization: complexities in policy and program analysis.
Deinstitutionalization as a public policy promised to be a major departure from previous psychiatric practice. Decrying traditional "medical paradigms" and the custodial "warehousing" of mental patients, policy makers advanced a "bold new approach" for care in the community. Progressive humanitarian reform could go hand in hand with fiscal conservatism. Community Mental Health Centers were to be the heart of a new national effort. But the rhetoric of reform failed to coalesce the activities among competing federal and state interests and systems. Intended beneficiaries may have become unfortunate victims.
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000191:economics; D006291:Health Policy; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009518:New York; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States