Understanding the current facts and principles of mental health systems planning.

ABSTRACT: The state mental health services planning encouraged by Pub.L. 99-660, TitleV, will be a very different process from the services planning of previous decades. The services planning stimulated by this new legislation will be influenced by a philosophy and set of values that contrast markedly with past services planning. In this article, service planning principles are articulated that can guide the planning of a comprehensive community-based service system. Yet, no matter how well crafted the plan; its worth is based on what it does for the people being served. New technology exits to change the program structures and staff competencies in ways that will lead to better client outcomes. The challenge of successfully implementing these new service plans will only be met when mental health authorities directly support the use of the new technologies. It appears that mental health system planning in the 1990s will be influenced by a vision and a philosophy that is very different from previous mental health planning efforts. Stimulated by a developing consensus about the underlying philosophy of community support and rehabilitation (Anthony, 1992; Parrish, 1989; Turner TenHoor, 1978), mental health planning is riding a wave of optimism about what could be, realistically tempered by a trough of pessimism about what currently exits and how much needs to be done. The articles in this section describe this future vision and present reality (Chamberlin