Presented is the first of two volumes reporting on a 2-year study of Georgia's services to the mentally retarded by the Atlanta Association for Retarded Children (AARC). Discussed in the section on organization, philosophy and methodology is the concept of normalization as an underlying philosophy of AARC. Briefly described are model programs observed in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. A model comprehensive service system and existing community services are both described in terms of the following areas: diagnosis and evaluation, family services, mental and physical health services, education and training services, work training, economic-legal supportive services, recreation services, religious training, transportation, and residential services. Noted is visitation of existing residential services by AARC staff members to determine current status of services. Detailed are evaluations of three special purpose residential facilities and three multipurpose residential facilities. Recommendations are given in the areas of comprehensive mental retardation programs, specialized residential programs, improvement of existing residential facilities, and program planning. Examples of recommendations are funding priority for community based small group homes and admission to state institutions only for retardates whose needs cannot be met in the community. Among appendixes are the text of a Declaration of Rights, a listing of reference materials, the questionnaire used in the residential study, and a chart of the model comprehensive service system. (DB)