Many aspects of the three European family-care programs described could be more widely applied in the United States. Such programs avoid the need to return the hospitalized patient directly to his own family or community, where many of his problems are rooted. The ancient foster-care program at Geel, Belgium, has many therapeutic advantages, but certain anachronisms and encroaching urbanization threaten its viability. Family care at Lierneux, Belgium, and Belien, The Netherlands, is modeled on the Geel program; however, innovations make the Beilen program the most practical in light of current social and psychiatric conditions.
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