Tools for mental health agencies to evaluate research protocols

Research involving community mental health center clients, resources, or both can affect clinical care, administrative processes, and costs. To help agencies identify and quantify these effects, a stakeholder group examined and discussed a range of protocols and then developed questionnaires and rating scales for agency use. The purpose of these materials is to make explicit the risks, costs, and benefits of a research protocol so an agency can make informed decisions about protocol approval and implementation. The goal of this work was to promote the conduct of appropriate research in community mental health settings while reducing risks to the agency and its clientele.