An empirically derived typology of mentally ill group home residents

The classification of clients in terms of psychiatric diagnosis or level of functioning is a logical prerequisite to the conduct of quality of care assessments in mental health care. This article reports on efforts to create a typology of mentally ill group home residents based on a variety of measures of functioning. Subjects for the study come from a probability sample of 253 group home residents in Michigan. A three group typology, derived through cluster analytic procedures, is presented along with-evidence supporting its validity. Implications of the typology for program evaluators and service system planners are briefly addressed.