Practical Issues in Developing and Operating a Halfway House Program

During its six years of operation, the halfway house program of the Southern Arizona Mental Health Center has developed a well-defined set of program goals, referral procedures, staffing patterns, and procedures for operating the houses, many of which are described here. The program serves 25 residents in four adjacent houses. It is operated as a therapeutic community with a broad range of structured activities and treatment modalities and an emphasis on solving reality problems. The staff of director, therapist-counselors, residential (or nighttime) counselors, and volunteer counselors is supplemented by the services of consultants, the mental health center, and community agencies.