A state-wide assessment of training needs of community mental health administrators

In order to construct a trainee-designed continuing education (CE) program for administrators, a training needs assessment of all community mental health agencies in Illinois was conducted using a framework of pertinent organization, task, and individual variables. Mental health administrators were, indeed, interested in CE. Areas of interest included leadership, clinical services, planning and evaluation, supplemental services, accountability and accreditation. Funding source was the key variable in relation to training priorities. However, other variables such as comprehensiveness, caseload, serving all ages, and years of experience were also related to training interests. There were contrasts in organization, task, and administrator variables but not in training preferences in relation to geographic location. Implications of administrator/agency descriptive data for the planning of CE are discussed.