Participatory action research to establish self-directed care for mental health recovery in Texas.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes a public-academic collaboration between a university research center and the Texas state mental health authority to design and evaluate a unique "money follows the person" model called self-directed care (SDC). SDC programs give participants control over public funds to purchase services and supports for their own recovery.


METHODS
Through a participatory action research process, the project combined use of evidence-based practice and community consensus as a tool for system change.


RESULTS
The story of this effort and the program that resulted are described, along with quantitative and qualitative data from the project's start-up phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Lessons learned about the importance of community collaboration are discussed in light of the current emphasis on public mental health system transformation through alternative financing mechanisms.
University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA. cook@ripco.com
Judith A
JA
Cook
Samuel E
SE
Shore
Jane K
JK
Burke-Miller
Jessica A
JA
Jonikas
Matthew
M
Ferrara
Susan
S
Colegrove
Walter T
WT
Norris
Brandy
B
Ruckdeschel
Andrew P
AP
Batteiger
Mark
M
Ohrtman
Dennis D
DD
Grey
Malinda E
ME
Hicks
D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000191:economics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D012107:Research Design; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas