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Preparing for a Public Sector Mental Health Reform in New Mexico: The Experience of Agencies Serving Adults with Serious Mental Illness

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Abstract

In 2005, New Mexico began a comprehensive reform of state-funded mental health care. This paper reports on differences in characteristics, infrastructure, financial status, and services across mental health agencies. We administered a telephone survey to senior leadership to assess agency status prior to and during the first year of reform. Non-profit/public agencies were more likely than others to report reductions or no changes in administrative staff. CMHCs were more likely to report a decline in their financial situation. Findings demonstrated that CMHCs, non-profit/public agencies and rural agencies were more likely to offer critical services to adults with serious mental illness.

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Acknowledgments

We thank William Zywiak for his comments on the statistical analysis. This research was supported by a grant (NIMH R01 MH76084) from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded to Dr. Willging; however, the views expressed in this paper are the authors’ alone.

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Correspondence to Rafael M. Semansky.

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Semansky, R.M., Hodgkin, D. & Willging, C.E. Preparing for a Public Sector Mental Health Reform in New Mexico: The Experience of Agencies Serving Adults with Serious Mental Illness. Community Ment Health J 48, 264–269 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9418-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9418-5

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