330.628.01 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY IN THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT

Acquaints students with mental health systems and the development of a comprehensive approach to the delivery of services to a variety of vulnerable populations living in difficult conditions in the community. Topics include a survey of the variety of current mental health services and evidence-based approaches, the impact on services of governance, organization and financing of services including a primer on Medicaid and Medicare, the link between poverty and mental health and the use of jails as mental asylums, the development of a competent workforce and an introduction to international community mental health issues. Features discussion and problem solving and involves a high degree of interaction between the participants as well as several field trips.

After completing this course, students should be able to: Define the components of a comprehensive and effective community mental health system; Analyze the governance structure of a system; Define and analyze the issues facing delivery of mental health services to a variety of vulnerable populations; Analyze a problem and the ramifications of various solutions; Design a model utilizing the concepts learned that effectively incorporates the most appropriate financing and service delivery approach to achieve values and goals and best address the specific issues identified.