ABSTRACT
Most people with mental illnesses reside in the community. Evidence-based treatments now enable many with even the most serious mental illnesses to have sustained community tenure. Recovery from mental illness, rather than symptom reduction, has become the primary focus of treatment, and there is an emerging emphasis on person-centered care. However, care is often inadequate and unavailable. Even when services exist, many people have difficulty obtaining access because of poverty and lack of health insurance (Cunningham, McKenzie, & Taylor, 2006), and the great majority of people who obtain services do not receive evidence-based care (Drake, Bond, & Essock, 2009). Thus, the question of how to create and assure access to adequate treatment capacity is a significant challenge for public policy.
