Can quality survive in public mental health programs? The challenge for training

Discusses the critical role of training in the cost-effective delivery of mental health services. It is argued that the expanding knowledge base for psychological interventions and the need to ensure the delivery of quality service have produced a growing pressure for continuing professional education. Mandated program evaluation efforts have been a necessary but insufficient response to this challenge because they have not included the corrective component of training. A review of research on training and adult education indicates that the technology exists for competence-based continuing education, but such programs have yet to be developed. Recommendations for the implementation and funding of training programs are presented. (3 p ref)