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The caregiving system in community mental health programs: An application of open-systems theory

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Abstract

The rapid expansion of community mental health programs is focusing increased attention upon the problems of organizing effective caregiving networks. Concepts drawn from open-systems theory are applied to this issue by exploring the primary task, the nature of inputs and outputs, environmental conditions, and subsystem interactions as they affect a community mental health program. The differences between programs organized according to a medical practice model and a human services model are also explored within this framework.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 58 Fenwood Road, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts

    Herbert C. Schulberg Ph.D. (Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychology) &  Frank Baker Ph.D. (Lecturer in Psychology)

Authors
  1. Herbert C. Schulberg Ph.D.
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  2. Frank Baker Ph.D.
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Additional information

Preparation of this paper was supported by NIMH Special Grant MH-09214 to the Laboratory of Community Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.

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Schulberg, H.C., Baker, F. The caregiving system in community mental health programs: An application of open-systems theory. Community Ment Health J 6, 437–446 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435133

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