ACT team members' responses to training in recovery-oriented practices.

To further our understanding of the consequences of training in recovery principles and practices, this study examined ACT team workers' responses to a state-wide recovery training initiative. Analysis of trainees' comments revealed ten themes expressing endorsement of or difficulties with recovery-oriented practices. Trainees' comments supporting a recovery orientation described service recipients in holistic terms and described using various techniques to attain "client-centered" goals.

Decreasing psychiatric symptoms by increasing choice in services for adults with histories of homelessness.

Despite the increase in consumer-driven interventions for homeless and mentally ill individuals, there is little evidence that these programs enhance psychological outcomes. This study followed 197 homeless and mentally ill adults who were randomized into one of two conditions: a consumer-driven "Housing First" program or "treatment as usual" requiring psychiatric treatment and sobriety before housing. Proportion of time homeless, perceived choice, mastery, and psychiatric symptoms were measured at six time points.

Consumer preference programs for individuals who are homeless and have psychiatric disabilities: a drop-in center and a supported housing program.

We illustrate Fairweather's approach to Experimental Social Innovation and Dissemination with two experimental studies of programs to reduce homelessness for 168 and 225 people with mental illness and often substance abuse. Literally homeless participants were randomly assigned to programs that emphasized consumer choice or to the usual continuum of care, in which housing and services are contingent on sobriety and progress in treatment. A drop-in center that eliminated barriers to access to services was more successful than control programs in reducing homelessness, but after 24 months only 38% of participants had moved to community housing.