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Citizen participation in CMHC program evaluation: A neglected potential

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  • A Special Issue of Citizen Participation in Community Mental Health Services
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Abstract

A rationale for involving citizens in CMHC planning and evaluation is presented from three perspectives: (1) values, (2) responsiveness to the community, and (3) utilization of evaluative findings. Current practices in citizen involvement in CMHC evaluation are reviewed and several examples are given. Seven roles citizens can play in CMHC evaluation are described. Data indicating that citizens can provide useful, relevant information and recommendations which can lead to positive changes in the CMHC are offered. The paper concludes that citizen participation in CMHC evaluation occurs infrequently and presents suggestions as to how this situation can be remedied.

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Authors
  1. Nancy R. Dinkel Ph.D.
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  2. Joan Wagner Zinober Ph.D.
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  3. Eugenie Walsh Flaherty Ph.D.
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Additional information

Much of the material in this paper is based on the work of NIMH Contract No. MH 278-77-0067, Eugenie Walsh Flaherty, Principal Investigator, and NIMH Grant number MH 28784, Joan Wagner Zinober, Principal Investigator.

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Dinkel, N.R., Zinober, J.W. & Flaherty, E.W. Citizen participation in CMHC program evaluation: A neglected potential. Community Ment Health J 17, 54–65 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754209

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754209

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