Determinants of placement outcome in the Foster Community Project.

The Foster Community Project was established to reintegrate chronic psychiatric patients into the community through the combined efforts of the hospital staff, the patients and the citizens of two rural Missouri towns. Data collected over a seven year period was analyzed in order to determine which factors were associated with successful community adjustment following long term hospitalization. Results indicated that length of premorbid functioning, sex, and level of social functioning differentiated successful from unsuccessful participants. Additionally, Foster Community patients were older and had generally been hospitalized longer than patients who did not complete the program. Implications for future research and rehabilitation plans are given.