Longitudinal change and interstate variability in the size of residential facilities for persons with mental retardation.

Abstract

Changes in the size and type of operation of residential facilities for persons with mental retardation in the United States over the past 2 decades were discussed and current (June 30, 1988) interstate variability in residential services along these same dimensions examined. Considerable progress was noted nationally in securing relatively small, community-based residential opportunities for persons with mental retardation. However, this progress has not been uniformly realized in all states or for all types of facilities. Standards for federal policy that would make the official national commitment to community-based services more consistent among all the states were considered.