INTERACTIONS BETWEEN GROUP HOMES AND NEIGHBORS - NEIGHBOR PREFERENCES

Group homes often are in conflict with their neighbors. Consequently g roup home administrators tend to minimize contact between group homes and neighbors to reduce conflict. This study examined whether informat ion about group homes and contact between homes and neighbors are rela ted to neighbor problems as well as the preferences of potential neigh bors about ways in which to become informed and involved with a group home if one were built in their neighborhood. Neighbors who interacted with residents and staff identified problems with group homes but sho wed fewer concerns about and had positive attitudes toward group homes generally, Potential neighbors wanted information about group homes e ntering their neighborhood, and preferred types of contact were associ ated with positive attitudes toward group homes. Group home administra tors should consider neighbors as potential allies to help residents i ntegrate into the community rather than as sources of conflict that mu st be avoided.