title: Development of an aftercare program in a nonmetropolitan area.
abstract: This article describes the development of a nontraditional aftercare program set in a predominantly rural area. The program was initiated by a citizen's board concerned with the lack of follow-up services provided to patients discharged from a distant state hospital. The planning format as conceived by representatives of this board is outlined and the steps involved in operationalizing specific services and a research program are described. Lastly, a number of limitations of the program and future directions are enumerated.
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009820:Ohio; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012423:Rural Health