SOME ISSUES IN STAFF TRAINING AND IMPROVEMENT

In 1988, Norway's parliament instituted the systematic deinstitutional ization of the nation's health care system for mentally retarded perso ns. Professionals have recognized that deinstitutionalization will suc ceed only if treatment personnel can provide effective treatment for t heir clients. A study is presented in which 152 hands-on staff members were assigned to 76 clients with moderate to severe mental retardatio n. The study asked whether staff training in behaviorally oriented tre atment and assessment would produce greater improvement in the behavio r of clients and staff than would training in treatment alone. Data fa iled to support this hypothesis, but did provide clear evidence that b oth clients and staff improved with staff training. The assessment of such programs is seen to be of great importance in view of the fact th at deinstitutionalization will leave the majority of mentally retarded clients in Norway in the care of persons who have received such limit ed forms of training.