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This paper describes a 10-session behavioral intervention introducing female-initiated methods of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention to reduce vulnerability to HIV infection for women with severe mental illness. In a pilot test of the intervention, 35 women were randomly placed in the experimental intervention group or an HIV education control. Subjective norms, intentions to use, perceived efficacy, and attitudes toward the male condom, female condom, and a microbicide were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 6-week follow-up. The participants in the treatment group reported a significantly more positive attitude toward the use of female condoms (t = −2.12, P

Negotiations with outside agencies have become a new endeavor for many mental health managers. However, a significant barrier to managers learning the theory and skills of bargaining arises in the values possessed by mental health professionals, which encourage them to see negotiations as exploitative and consequently unethical and unhealthy. This paper reports on an effort to study and work through these value issues within the negotiating context.

The State of Colorado has introduced performance contracting into its relationships with community mental health centers. The nature of the contract and its implementation are described. Particular emphasis is placed on the implications of the contract for program evaluation. Essentially, the contract provides a clearer focus and richer data while complicating the evaluator's tasks.

The Colorado Division of Mental Health implemented a quality assurance program in all of its mental health facilities. The system was designed to help managers know how they were doing on operational issues. The program was simple, low cost, and easy to implement. All levels of management found it a useful tool in getting control of important processes.