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.
Cook
Judith A
JA
University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA. cook@ripco.com
Shore
Samuel E
SE
Burke-Miller
Jane K
JK
Jonikas
Jessica A
JA
Ferrara
Matthew
M
Colegrove
Susan
S
Norris
Walter T
WT
Ruckdeschel
Brandy
B
Batteiger
Andrew P
AP
Ohrtman
Mark
M
Grey
Dennis D
DD
Hicks
Malinda E
ME
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