EVALUATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAM

This paper examined be outcome of a comprehensive community rehabilita tion program (CRP)for long-term psychiatric clients 20 months after it s implementation in a semi-rural area of Nova Scotia. Clients in the p rogram (N = 18) were offered a number of psychosocial rehabilitative s ervices, while clients in the comparison group (N = 18) were provided be regular depot clinic services Reviews of the service at 8 and 20 mo nths indicated bat CRP clients had made moderate to significant progre ss in be achievement of their short-term goals were able to improve th eir functional and coping abilities, and sought fewer and shorter inpa tient admissions. In addition, they made fewer non-psychiatric outpati ent visits ban clients in the comparison group. The community rehabili tation program included a wide range of services, and its positive imp act was far greater ban be limited aftercare service delivered in be s tandard system.