Evaluation of priorities in a community mental health center

In an academic department of psychiatry that undertook the operation of a community mental health center, the ideal allocation by program heads of priorities for change in service, education, and research was investigated. It was hypothesized that a productive solution required (a) equal priorities for change in service and education and (b) leadership that had minimal conflict with the different program heads. The department leaders and the heads of programs in service, education, research, and community completed a 90-item structured Q sort on ideal priorities. There was support for both hypotheses. Special consideration was given to a discussion of community involvement in departmental policy making.This investigation was supported by Grant MH 15087 from the National Institute of Mental Health, United States Public Health Service.