The Impact of Federally Funded CMHCs on Local Mental Health Service Systems

To measure how much federally funded community mental health centers increased the quantity and range of mental health services, 63 catcbment areas in which CMHCs began to receive federal funding in 1974-75 were matched individually with catchment areas that never received federal CMHC funding. The two groups of catchment areas were compared to determine average increases from 1973 to 1980 in amounts of services, mental health staff, expenditures, and accessibility and availability of services. Results showed that establishment of local CMHCs had a clear impact on the quantity and the availability and accessibility of services in the catchment area. The effect sizes resulting merely from the passage of time and from CMHC funding were compared.