Volunteer paraprofessional mental health workers' participation in an inner city early intervention program: a dose of reality.
Specification of the personal impact of participating as a paraprofessional in mental health programs has become increasingly important. The present study compared seven paraprofessional participants in a school-based program with seven matched controls, pre and post participation. Paraprofessionals, relative to controls, became significantly: (a) warmer, (b) more positive in attitudes about mental health and children, and (c) less optimistic about social systems in general and more negative toward "elementary schools" in particular.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*