The Mental Health Program of the University of Illinois at Chicago has demonstrated significant consumer demand for outpatient community mental health services for people with mental retardation. Public policy planners should consider that outpatient programs may reach many more people than programs within state institutions, especially for those…

The author discusses the role of normalization in directing community-based services for retarded children; points out some problems with the use of normalization as a guiding principle; and suggests some alternate principles based on individual clients and enduring goals, such as positive self-feelings. (Author/IM)

Among 10 principles arising from a symposium on health services for mentally retarded persons in the community are the need for: multiple options for health care delivery; a stable primary care "medical home"; a health care network; presence of resource centers for specialty care; and establishment of a health care clearinghouse. (DB)

Dental services for mentally retarded persons in the community provided by Tufts Dental Facilities in Massachusetts are described. Principles of developing a community program including establishing a data base, interacting with the generic system, and developing a strategy for service delivery are explained. (DB)

Project FIND (First Identification of Neonatal Disabilities) has been developed to assist the family and physician of the mentally handicapped child from the day of birth. (DB)

This brief article presents data on trends in costs and numbers of recipients of Medicaid served by the Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation program and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. A table presents the data by state and a graph shows the increasing numbers of recipients and costs. (DB)

Comparison of the hospitalization experiences of 36 people with mental retardation under a managed care program model with those not enrolled (n=50) found that patients in the care coordination group had shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and were less severely ill upon admission. Costs of care coordination were partially offset by…

The state of Georgia has developed a community based alternative to institutionalization of the retarded. (Author/DB)

Patterns of staff communication with people living in three community-based residential facilities supporting persons with disabilities were examined by observing 16 staff persons for 2 hours each as they communicated with residents. Frequencies of communication were found to differ across activities and residents (communicative partners) but not…

Makes recommendations for providing better services to people with developmental disabilities, including clarifying the support that people with developmental disabilities need and providing that support; making a fundamental shift toward community based programs; eliminating rigid and complex rules; creating the future; and making a commitment to…

The developmental pattern of present behavior modification programs for the adult mentally retarded is evaluated. (Author)

Results of a questionnaire of administrators of community living arrangements programs for the developmentally disabled in Pennsylvania (N=116) found that some programs promoted relationships with neighbors, but others wished to keep the role of neighbors to a minimum. (Author/DB)

Changes in sizes and types of residential facilities for persons with mental retardation over the past two decades are discussed and interstate variability (as of June 1988) in residential services examined. Progress, though unevenly realized, is noted in numbers of small, community-based residential opportunities. Standards for federal policy are…