THE PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDEBOOK IS TO HELP CITIZENS ASSESS HOW WELL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS, SO THAT THEY MAY DEVELOP NEW WAYS OF ATTACKING HUMAN PROBLEMS. BEFORE CITIZENS CAN DETERMINE WHAT ALTERNATIVE WAYS OR STRUCTURES ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE SERVICES OR ELIMINATE PROBLEMS, THE FOLLOWING MUST BE DONE: (1) DECIDE WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE, (2) UNDERSTAND WHAT SERVICES ALREADY EXIST, (3) DISCOVER WHERE THE GAPS OR PROBLEMS ARE, AND (4) DETERMINE HOW PROGRAMS CAN BE ALTERED OR CHANGED. ONCE THIS KIND OF EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE, CITIZENS ARE IN A BETTER POSITION TO BARGAIN AND NEGOTIATE FOR WHATEVER CHANGES THEY BELIEVE TO BE IMPORTANT. THIS GUIDEBOOK HELPS CITIZENS ASSEMBLE THIS EVIDENCE AND FORMULATE STRATEGIES FOR NEGOTIATING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS AND BASIC PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED, MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE BECOMING INVOLVED IN THE ACCCOUNTABILITY PROCESS ITSELF. THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS DESCRIBED CONSISTS OF FOUR SEQUENTIAL STEPS: (1) ORGANIZING THE CITIZEN ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM, (2) ASSESSING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND RESOURCES, (3) EVALUATING SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND (4) USING THE RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION. THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH OF THESE STEPS IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES A DIRECTORY OF NATIONAL AND STATE MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. RECOMMENDED READINGS AND AN INDEX ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (RCB)