This article overviews the conceptual and legislative development of supported employment with persons who are developmentally disabled. The model of supported employment for psychiatrically disabled persons that is currently emerging reflects this conceptual and legislative history. Based on a literature review and interviews with persons in the field, this article describes how the supported employment approach is currently being adapted for persons with psychiatric disability. Other conceptual issues which must be articulated in order for the field to grow are highlighted.

This article reports the results of a comprehensive review of published literature related to the essential components of a CSS. Each component is analyzed with respect to its documented need, effective intervention strategies, and cost. The need for the types of services and supports initially conceptualized as a CSS in the mid-1970s has been well documented. Also, prior research has now set the stage for large-scale, long-term, experimental studies of measurable, replicable CSS-type interventions.There is a developing base of research relevant to community support systems (CSS). Reviews of a variety of research studies have reported that persons with severe and long-term mental illness can be helped in the community without undergoing long-term hospitalization (

This article presents the findings and recommendations of a statewide interagency task force on parents with mental illness who have young children. Based on testimony from consumers, providers, and advocates, the task force concluded that this is a substantial and neglected public policy issue requiring an intergovernmental, services integration approach. Recommendations were made in the areas of services, policies and procedures, and service coordination.

Integration of peer specialists into intensive case management programs appears to lead to enhanced quality of life for clients and more effective case management.

Before the development of the germ theory in the late 19th century, infectious illnesses were largely uncontrollable and caused significant mortality. Implementing public hygiene, preventive, and treatment interventions created remarkable improvements in population health. Today's U.S. public health crises involve threats to health and human capital evidenced by multiple indicators of deteriorating wellbeing. These problems result from the interaction of risk and protective factors. Specifically, we argue that the interaction of genetic vulnerability and toxic stress are antecedents to a developmental cascade that undermines healthy development and human capital. We review relevant literature, summarize effective strategies to prevent or ameliorate this deterioration, and outline a theory of the mechanisms currently undermining our health. A series of strategies that we believe will constitute the next major era in public health are discussed, involving actions at the individual/family, community and societal level to reduce risk and strengthen protective factors. (PsycINFO Database Record