These actions over a period of nearly 20 years culminated in the move toward full management boards. Under this concept, the community mental health board became the single point of responsibility for all voluntary and involuntary admissions to the public mental health system. In 1981, the full management concept was tested in four areas of Michigan. Today, every community mental health board throughout the state has assumed full-management responsibility and is responsible and accountable for a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of persons in their respective service areas. All Michigan citizens now live within an hour's travel time of a local mental health agency.
Immediate help is available and it is delivered on a personal and confidential basis.
Members of the community mental health boards are named by their respective county boards of commissioners. Boards have 12 members. Under Michigan law, the department is obligated to shift from the state to the county the primary responsibility for the direct delivery of mental health services. In total, these boards served 214,000 persons last year. Each board offers assistance to persons with developmental disabilities and to persons with emotional or psychiatric disorders.