To respond to the need for a coordinated system of training and training resources for West Virginia mental health personnel, the West Virginia Training Resources Center was established in 1979. Hospital and community mental health center administrators and staffs were surveyed to obtain program planning input, i.e., selection of trainee groups, assignment of priority to training areas and topics, and choice of format models for the training programs. Job-title, training and experience levels, and job analyses data were obtained from respondents. A return rate of 50% or 901 valid responses provided a representative cross-section of mental health personnel. Analyses of results indicated that while a need for training was identified the area of greatest need was not suited to traditional continuing education. Non-credentialed personnel, most notably state hospital psychiatric aides, were cited as needing most training, and a skill-oriented training format conducted at the work setting was suggested by the greatest percentage of all groups. To the extent that the results are capable of being generalized, the findings suggest that openness to the needs of training consumers is essential as the most effective means of ensuring that inservice training and continuing education programs continue to exist at necessary levels. (JAC)