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Collaboration between local public health and community mental health agencies
Author(s) -
Polivka Barbara J.,
Kennedy Carol,
Chaudry Rosemary
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199704)20:2<153::aid-nur7>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - mental health , nursing , public health , test (biology) , public health nursing , psychology , public relations , medicine , political science , psychiatry , paleontology , biology
Public health agencies (PHA) and community mental health agencies (CMHA) generally are organizationally and functionally autonomous. Collaboration between PHA and CMHA was explored in a statewide survey of nursing directors of PHA ( n = 135) and executive directors of CMHA ( n = 214). Findings indicated staff did not know each other well; clients, funds, and information were infrequently exchanged; public health nurses rarely were included in planning for the care of those with mental illness; and satisfaction with relationships was minimal. Path analysis was used to test an interagency collaboration model. Awareness of staff from other agencies increased satisfaction with interagency processes and interagency relationships. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 20: 153–160, 1997