Date of Award

1-1979

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Lawrence M. Millner

Second Advisor

John McClusky

Abstract

This culminating project by Susan Van Cleve (1979) examines the theoretical foundations and operational realities of crisis intervention programs within community mental health centers. The study begins by distinguishing between psychiatric emergencies and crisis states, utilizing the theoretical frameworks established by Lindemann and Caplan to define the phases of crisis and the principles of intervention. It outlines the essential elements of a comprehensive crisis service, which must include 24-hour telephone hotlines, face-to-face interventions (walk-in and outreach), emergency medical/psychiatric backup, and community linkage networks.

A significant portion of the paper is dedicated to a descriptive survey of 41 agencies in Illinois that received state funding for Emergency Program services in 1978. The survey, which yielded a 70.7% response rate, aimed to assess the range of services, staffing patterns, and administrative structures of these programs.

Key findings indicate that while all responding agencies provided 24-hour telephone services, the availability of 24-hour walk-in and outreach services was less uniform. The data reveals that outreach visits were primarily conducted by paid professionals rather than volunteers, contrasting with the staffing often seen in telephone programs. Furthermore, the study highlights the financial and logistical challenges of maintaining 24-hour coverage, documenting various payment mechanisms for on-call staff and outreach activities. The paper concludes by reviewing the "Balanced Service System" model and offering recommendations for future research, particularly regarding the cost-efficiency of different service modes and the development of better management information systems.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: This study examines the operational structures, staffing patterns, and service ranges of crisis intervention programs funded by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to assess compliance with comprehensive community care mandates.

  • The Method: The researcher administered a descriptive survey to a sample of 41 agencies receiving Fiscal Year 1978 Emergency Program grants, resulting in a 70.7% response rate representing 29 distinct programs. 

  • Quantitative Finding: Data indicates that while 100% of respondents provided 24-hour telephone and suicide intervention services, only 27.6% offered 24-hour walk-in services; additionally, 89.7% of programs were housed within community mental health centers rather than free-standing crisis facilities. 

  • Finding: The survey revealed that paid professionals constituted the primary staffing category (79.3% full-time), and only 17% of respondents indicated that after-hours outreach visits were conducted by personnel with specific crisis intervention training.

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