title: The continuity of moral reform: community mental health centers.
abstract: Contemporary involvement of citizens in the formation of mental health policies continues a long history of influential lay advocates achieving desired reforms. The Community Mental Health Centers Program arose from, and also recognized, the citizens' movement for community care. This legislation mandated and encouraged citizen membership on the governing boards of local centers. The influence of these citizen bodies is seen in the diversity and continuing evolution of the local centers structurally, in orientation and in services provided. Three examples from original field research are provided to illustrate.
mesh_terms: D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D009014:Morals; D011639:Public Opinion; D014481:United States