The runaway center as community mental health center

Abstract

The runaway centers that evolved in the late 1960s in response to the needs of troubled young people are fulfilling many of the goals of the community mental health center (CMHC) movement. These centers provide their young clients the five basic CMHC services--inpatient services, outpatient services, emergency services, partial hospitalization, and consultation and education--in an individualized and economical manner. They can serve as a model for a variety of community services, such as drop-in centers for troubled individuals, mediation centers for families, shelters for battered women, and residences for people suffering an acute psychotic break.