Abstract
State mental health agencies (SMHAs) are characterized by a variety of organizational and fiscal arrangements. SMHAs may be part of a multi-functional agency or free-standing. They may be devoted exclusively to mental health or also responsible for other human services. States also vary in terms of their SMHA-controlled expenditures on mental health services. This paper explores whether organizational structure affects expenditures on mental health. Consistent with some theories of bureaucratic behavior, we find (subject to data limitations) that SMHAs appear to compete for funds with other human service agencies and that the bargaining position of the SMHA is affected by its position in the state bureaucratic organization.
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Research support was provided by grants R01 MH49731 and K05 MH00832 from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors are grateful to the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute for data and assistance, and to the state officials who provided information to telephone requests. Randy Ellis, Richard Frank, Albert Ma, and anonymous reviewers contributed helpful comments on an earlier version of this article. Conclusions in the paper are the responsibility of the authors alone.
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Jacobsen, K., McGuire, T.G. & Notman, E. Organizational structure and state mental health expenditures. Adm Policy Ment Health 23, 475–492 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108685
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108685