Preventive Activity and Interorganizational Factors

Associations are examined between interorganizational relationships in community mental health centers (CMHCs) and preventive activities, operationalized as public education, program consultation, training of other caregivers, and community planning and development. Interorganizatiorzal factors account for much of the variation in the type of preventive activity emphasized. Wide ranging involventent with the environment, balanced by a degree of organizational autonomy, is linked with public education. Program consultation is emphasized in more insular CMHCs. Training of other service providers can be partly understood as a pursuit of urban CMHCs. More community planning and development emerges when interagency ties are extensive but system-focused as opposed to client-focused.