Fifty-four persons with serious mental illness who were living below the
poverty line were randomly divided into two groups. Members of one group
received allowances and forgivable loans to raise them above the poverty
line for one year. The others received some funds, but not enough to raise
them above the poverty line. All participants selected one staff member
from a consortium of supporting agencies to serve as a sponsor and another
person to serve as an adviser to help them function better. For both groups
hospitalization rates were significantly reduced, and quality of life in
some domains improved.
Abstract Teaser