A review of eight research studies on the question of size in relation to quality of resident life in state institutions is presented. Findings of seven of the studies reviewed showed that there is some advantage to the smaller setting. None showed any advantage to larger institutions. (PHR)

A study involving 3,920 individuals with mental retardation from 665 residential facilities found ownership, facility size, facility services, and location were factors associated with higher expenditures. Individuals with a greater number of activity of daily living limitations, developmental disabilities, and more severe mental retardation had…

Analysis of states' utilization of large residential settings for individuals with mental retardation and related conditions found that some states with low use of large public facilities may actually have high use of large nonpublic facilities. A chart showing utilization rates by states for various types (public and nonpublic) of large settings…

This article presents perspectives on the expansion of provider organizations with case studies of two Oregon organizations: Independent Environments, which supports approximately 20 people with an annual budget of $1 million and Partnerships in Community Living, which supports approximately 115 people with a budget of $10 million. (Contains…

When 32 mentally retarded adults who had been transferred from large institutions to new small units were tested 5.5 years after the transfer, tests indicated that they had retained or regained adaptive behavior skills but had declined in psycholinguistic abilities. (Author/CB)