The study examined factors influencing the decision of 103 families concerning placement of their severely retarded child. Among findings were that child-related stressors were negatively related to parents' plans for keeping the child at home, and that families with high levels of internal resources were more apt to plan to keep the child at…

Analysis of data for 3,266 individuals from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey found that residents of state institutions were more severely retarded and more often multiple disabled than were residents of other types of residential facilities. Relatively more persons with severe impairments resided in state facilities in states where…

Sixty-three parents of children with severe handicaps who were placed out of the home were interviewed regarding why they did not place their child sooner. Factor analysis indicated three main factors that delayed placement: guilt feelings, social support, and family relationships. (Author/JDD)

A sample of 5,607 severely/profoundly mentally retarded children under 18 years was studied to determine predictor variables in out-of-home placements. Examined were child age, maladaptive/adaptive behavior, and presence of multiple handicaps. Results suggest that variables other than child characteristics should be included in analyses of…

Four professional groups (totaling 567 subjects) were surveyed regarding their prognoses for individuals with mental retardation. Results showed that physicians had significantly lower expectations and more pessimistic prognoses for children with moderate or severe mental retardation than did other professionals (psychologists, social workers, and…

The survey of 104 home providers (for the mentally retarded) concerning family involvement found 3 variables contributing unique variance: (1) the participation of family in placement, (2) the provider's encouragement of family involvement, and (3) the living status of the father. Descriptive information on family involvement across the lifespan…

Interviews conducted twice over a 2.5-year period with 62 parents of adult children with mental retardation living in their home found that support resources played a role in reducing perceived caregiving burden and in determining parents' future out-of-home placement preferences for their adult child. (Author/JDD)

Interviews with 62 families who had placed their children with mental retardation in residential placement reflected high involvement with their children, with 81% of families visiting monthly. There was marginal evidence for a lessening of involvement over time. Family involvement was most strongly related with facility characteristics,…

This examination of the successful community placement of 15 medically fragile individuals with profound mental retardation and complex epilepsy found that simplification of anticonvulsants, early intervention for seizures, and improved staff education resulted in fewer seizures, decreases in emergency room visits for status seizures and…

This study, with a national sample of 370 older persons with mental retardation in foster care, small group homes, large private facilities, and large state-operated facilities, found generally low levels of social integration. Individuals in community settings were much more likely to experience some social integration. (DB)

Effects of child characteristics and home environment on caregivers' behavioral intentions regarding placement were examined longitudinally for 100 families of children with severe mental retardation. Prior behavioral intentions significantly predicted actual placement independent of other factors. Among child characteristics, only normative…

An evaluation was conducted of community support services in Minnesota that provide treatment options to individuals with developmental disabilities who display behaviors that put them at risk of losing their current community placement and being placed in a large state facility. Evaluation results and the outreach service model are considered.…

This study found that accuracy in predicting the out-of-home placement of children with severe disabilities increased little in a large cross-sectional sample (n=5,992) over a smaller semilongitudinal sample (n=141). Factors such as age, adaptive and maladaptive behavior, and ethnicity are discussed. (Author/JDD)

Analysis of data regarding future residential plans of 141 mothers of adult children with mental retardation found that greater care giving burden was associated with more extensive planning for residence within the formal service system and less planning for residence with a family member. More frequent service use predicted greater planning for…

Permanency plans made by 100 family caregivers of adults with mental retardation living at home were analyzed. Regression analyses indicated that the individual's functioning level, caregiver characteristics, and support resources predicted preference for placement in a residential program, whereas only caregiver characteristics predicted whether…