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Environmental scan 2000: issues facing state mental health agencies.
N A Mazade1, R W Glover, G P Hutchings
1National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Research Institute, Inc., Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
Administration and Policy in Mental Health
|July 27, 2000
Summary
State mental health agencies (SMHAs) are adapting to new challenges. Directors now prioritize operational assessments, inter-agency linkages, and adopting innovative practices over older concerns like managed care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Mental Health Policy
Background:
- State mental health agencies (SMHAs) face evolving challenges in the 21st century.
- Key issues include managed care, Medicaid waivers, public/private partnerships, and federal welfare reform.
- A shift in focus is observed among SMHA directors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on changes within state mental health systems over a two-year period.
- To identify emerging priorities for state mental health agency directors.
- To understand the adaptation of SMHAs to new administrative and clinical landscapes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving interviews with directors of state mental health agencies.
- Comparative analysis of system changes between two distinct interview periods.
- Qualitative assessment of evolving concerns and operational strategies.
Main Results:
- While managed care and welfare reform remain concerns, directors' focus has shifted.
- Increased emphasis on assessing agency operations and performance.
- Growing importance of establishing inter-agency linkages and adopting new practices.
- Directors are prioritizing knowledge transfer and implementation of model practices.
Conclusions:
- State mental health systems are undergoing significant transformation.
- SMHA directors are increasingly focused on internal capacity building and external collaboration.
- The field is moving towards more integrated and evidence-based service delivery models.