Interviews with 24 families of deinstitutionalized developmentally disabled children revealed that 83 percent expressed high-level need for care and 67 percent were coping at a low level. Inner-city families most often expressed high-intensity needs and decreased coping ability, as did families of patients of younger age groups. (CL)

Users and non-users of home-based respite care services for parents of children with developmental disabilities were compared. The respite care group showed overall consistent benefits from the respite services in coping resources and stress reduction. (Author/DB)

A study of 30 adults with mothers (n=28) or fathers (n=2) who had mental retardation found that despite the problems they encountered in their childhood, many of which originated outside the home, most of the informants had maintained a valued relationships with their family and remained close to their mothers. (Contains extensive references.)…

The study of families (N=42) who had adopted or were long-term fostering mentally retarded children found very positive outcomes for most families in contrast to results from other studies with mentally retarded birth children. (Author/DB)

Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association on Mental Deficiency (92nd, Boston, 1968).

Interviews were conducted with 17 families having a member with mental retardation and problem behavior, to investigate the families' definition of problem behavior, challenges the family faces, and successful approaches to changing the behavior. The needs of families were identified, such as the need for more information on the problem behavior.…

This commentary on EC 605 926 states that families of children with severe mental retardation or autism have problems that might be considered "the same, only more so" compared to issues faced by families with nonhandicapped children, and therefore solutions might involve magnifications of solutions being suggested to help all parents.…

Research on working poor families participating in an anti-poverty initiative in Milwaukee found 60% of families had at least one child with significant problems (learning, school achievement and/or behavior, retardation, or other disabilities). Comparison with other families with children with troubles found the program families adapted less…

Trends in family support spending and new programmatic initiatives during the 1990s are summarized. Nationally, total spending for family support exceeded $1 billion. Between 1990-2000, family support spending grew from 1.5% to 4% of total resources expended by state mental retardation agencies. Programmatic initiatives include trends toward…

Results of five parental interviews indicated a similar process was experienced in deciding on out-of-home placements for children with complex medical needs: weariness; need for additional assistance; "triggering events" (financial concerns, lack of social supports, and difficulties with services); need for decision approval; and reflections on…

This paper explores issues of religion and ethnicity, with emphasis on how these factors relate to adjustment for families (particularly African American families) of a child with disabilities. A framework for further research and policy development is offered, which relates culture/ethnicity, religious connectedness, and family…

Parents (n=79) of children with autism and related disabilities were surveyed about their children's challenging behaviors and what resources were needed to manage these behaviors. A high frequency of such behaviors was reported. Contingency management was the most effective management approach. Results are discussed in terms of families' needs,…