Mandated collaboration: the case of the forensic MOU

The management and support of forensic clients is an area of interest to both clinicians and policy makers. Collaboration between hospital and community service providers is required and in some instances, mandated. This article reviews some of the literature about collaboration and examines selected experiences in the mental health field using a case study method. The case study examines the process of mandated collaboration in the development of the forensic MOU (memorandum of understanding), which involved CMHA Metro Toronto, and three general hospital ACT (assertive community treatment) teams and the Law and Mental Health Program at the Centre for Addiction Mental Health. The article offers observations on the extent to which collaboration is an emergent process that is responsive to its particular environment and explores power dynamics and how trust and flexibility affect outcomes in a positive or negative sense.