Each site began with patients being treated in their own health care delivery systems, including out-patient clinics and hospitals. As recruitment efforts broadened, case participants were also drawn from residential facilities (board and care), and from outpatient community mental health clinics. After initial telephone contact in which the research protocol was described, study informational material and flyers were mailed to potential recruitment sites for review by clinicians, staff, and potential participants. Research coordinators traveled to these facilities to meet with clinicians/case-management teams to describe the study in detail and to address questions. We have established a broad network of participating sites that enable ongoing contact with cohort participants.
