Staffing patterns in community mental health centers.

Staffing patterns of federally funded community mental health centers were examined in a survey of 512 centers conducted in 1977. A total of 275 usable responses were received. The findings showed that rural centers had significantly fewer trainees in three of the major mental health disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, and soical work) and fewer affiliations with training institutions, factors that contribute to the maldistribution of mental health professionals in rural areas. The survey also showed that center directors tended to hire more staff of their own professional background.