Facilitating deinstitutionalization: a comparative analysis.

The purpose of the paper is to highlight issues related to deinstitutionalization and community care of the mentally ill by using a comparative approach. Through a comparison of the trends in the U.S.A. and Israel, an attempt is made to account for factors which promoted deinstitutionalization. The paper focuses on specific policies and programs which were crucial in reducing the rate of resident population in mental institutions and facilitating the development of community care for the mentally ill in the U.S. It points out the environmental conditions, social, political, legal and organizational, which may be conducive to legislative and administrative actions in order to facilitate deinstitutionalization.