Consultation and education in rural community mental health centers

This paper reports on the status of consultation and education in the rural community mental health center: First, it describes the rural programs on several organizational dimensions as compared to nonrural programs. Second, it identifies several distinctive characteristics of rural programs. Third, it presents a case illustration of a successful consultation-education service. Finally, it discusses strategies for strengthening consultation and education in the rural setting. The paper is based on the findings of a study of prevention programs in community mental health centers in Region III (Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia).