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.