Abstract
Drawing on the author's experience with a low budget mental health needs assessment project, guidelines are offered to administrators of individual mental health centers contemplating field surveys. Throughout, the emphasis is on methods that maintain the integrity and quality of the data collected but still minimize costs. Consequently, the types of existing resources available to local agencies are detailed. The article does not attempt to minimize the complexities involved with survey projects, but rather strives to demonstrate that they are feasible for small agencies.
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Additional information
Mary E. Stefl, Ph.D., is associated with the Health Care Administration Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.
The author wishes to acknowledge A. James Ellis, executive director of the Warren County Community Mental Health Board, and Gordon Roberts, advisory board member and overall director of the needs assessment project, whose foresight, initiative, and hard work made this project possible. Similarly, thanks is due to Rex M. Rogers, Ph.D. (now at Cedarville College), who provided assistance on the project and helped with the initial draft of this paper.
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Stefl, M.E. Community surveys in local needs assessment projects: Lessons from a case study. Administration in Mental Health 12, 110–122 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00818774
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00818774