Fort Bragg Child & Adolescent Mental Health Demonstration Project / Lenore Behar and Others.

The Fort Bragg Child Mental Health Demonstration Project is an integrated services system which provides a comprehensive, organized system of mental health and substance abuse services. The project serves approximately 46,000 children (under 18 years of age) in the Fort Bragg catchment area (a 5,000 square mile area within a 40-mile radius of Fayetteville, North Carolina) who are eligible for the Civilian Health and Medical Services Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). This paper presents the project's three primary goals which arose from the belief that the development of alternative mid-range services, which are less restrictive and less expensive, can be provided for children who, otherwise, would be hospitalized. The report describes the clinical component of the program along with valuative approaches and the intended impact. Specific needs on which the project focuses, such as the need for improved services and cost containment, are also discussed. Costs arising from the absence of a middle range of services (which causes children who need more than outpatient services to be admitted to inpatient units) receive lengthy treatment. The report also addresses the project's continuum of care and system of services with an analysis of client population, clinical services and assessment, outpatient treatment services, individualized services, and residential treatment services. Although conclusive results are not yet available, preliminary data suggest that the Demonstration Project has reduced the utilization of inpatient and residential care by using high quality, lower cost, intermediate-level care and outpatient services. (RJM)

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