A historical-social study with the objective to describe the circumstances surrounding the creation of Therapeutic Homes in Volta Redonda, defining the structure and functioning of these homes and analyzing the nurses' role during the implementation process. Laws, decrees, ordinances and reports, in addition to oral statements from the professionals involved in the process, were used as primary sources of information. Data collection occurred from December of 2009 to June of 2010. Findings were organized, classified and analyzed according to an historic method, supported by the literature regarding the theme. The implementation of Therapeutic homes was observed to represent a complex process in which nurses acted through outpatient institutions that comprise the mental health care network. The importance of these homes was shown as contributing to and increasing the clients' autonomy and the fundamental participation of nurses was the link between these homes and the mental health primary care units.
Nursing; Psychiatric nursing; Mental health; History of nursing; Assisted living facilities