Integrating the halfway house with day-hospital treatment: three perspectives.

In this paper, three treaters from three different psychiatric hospitals delineate specific criteria for developing a mutually beneficial, interactive relationship between day hospitals and halfway houses. Ideas for setting up such a cooperative venture are based on the strengths of these three existing programs at the Menninger Clinic, Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital, and Harding Hospital. Potential problem areas are discussed such as admission and discharge criteria, communication between separate program components, treatment responsibility, staff roles, and program goals and boundaries.