The article describes Benhaven, a residential program of group homes in Connecticut, which provides intensive programing for autistic and neurologically impaired children. Examined are the program's administration and management, treatment services, support services, and family and community involvement. (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…

The study discusses the development of attitudinal measures regarding community based residential facilities for retarded adults and presents results from two tests administered to 75 adults living near a facility housing 36 retarded adults. It is explained that interviews were conducted with the adults to determine their previous contact with…

The proceedings of this 1984 hearing presents recommendations to improve services for mentally retarded citizens. A report on conditions in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded is followed by statements of Senators L. Weicker, Jr., J. Randolph, and R. Stafford and by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human…

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…

This symposium overview briefly summarizes following articles which identify problems in the quality of care provided by Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR), provide reactions, and identify positive trends. An emphasis on regulations and compliance is thought to be a major obstacle to quality services. (DB)

This paper contrasts the rhetoric of quality assurance with the realities of poor quality in today's Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR). The ICF/MR operational model is described as paper oriented, failure based, and insensitive to the effects of its own practices. Recommendations include the establishment of local…

Comprehensive assessment of personality traits of 110 direct service personnel employed in community residential units for the intellectually disabled was conducted. Overall, personnel exhibited nonaberrant profiles of personality traits, and there was a notable lack of psychopathology. Sensitivity was significantly elevated, seemingly a desirable…

This short report provides a brief description of a research project presenting an alternative approach to delinquency treatment. Achievement Place is a family-sized residential treatment home for predelinquent and delinquent youngsters. Six to eight boys, aged 12-16, live in a renovated house located in their own community. A specially trained…

Changes in adaptive competence over a one-year period of profoundly mentally retarded, physically disabled persons living in a moderately sized residential facility or in small community programs were examined. No evidence was found to indicate that habilitative growth was greater for residents in the small community programs. (Author/CL)

A curriculum development model was formulated for training resident advisors (RAs) to work with developmentally disabled clients in small community homes. Overall findings suggested that the alternative living arrangement pilot training programs were highly effective in helping students acquire the knowledge and skills requisite to successful RA…

The social interaction patterns of 23 adults with severe disabilities, residents of community-based programs, were analyzed across a 30-month time period. Analysis focused on number of different companions, rate of social interactions, durability of social relationships, and number of new companions met during the last year of the study.…

The "Colorado Children's Budget" presents and analyzes investments and spending trends during the past five state fiscal years on services that benefit children. The "Children's Budget" focuses mainly on state investment and spending, with some analysis of federal investments and spending to provide broader context of state…

The paper describes the background and development of The Residential Facilities Worker Training Program, a 2-year degree program at Seattle Community College (Washington) to train staff persons to work in community based residential settings with developmentally disabled children, adolescents, and adults. Need for the program is discussed,…

Fifteen mentally retarded adults living in group home and intermediate group residences (IGR) were interviewed. All participants spent majority of their time in their homes. Men played a more active role in their integration than did women. IGR men and women went less often into the community and rarely (IGR men) or never (IGR women) went out…