During the last 15 years, there have been apparently contradictory criticisms of staffing patterns, and hence of care provided, in community mental health centers (CMHCs). To test their hypothesis that heterogeneity among CMHCs is responsible for the variety of criticisms, the authors examined staffing patterns in CMHCs between 1973 and 1981, dividing the centers into groups by organizational type. They found major differences in staffing between different types of centers, and between groups of centers added to the CMHC program during different time periods. The authors discuss the criticisms leveled at CMHCs in view of their findings, and suggest the research that is needed to clarify the differences between various types of CMHCs.