COMMUNITY HABILITATION AND INTEGRATION OF ADULTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AND MENTAL-RETARDATION - DEVELOPMENT OF A CLINICALLY RESPONSIVEENVIRONMENT

Ten individuals with mental retardation and psychiatric disorders who failed in their community placements due to aggression, proper-ty dest ruction and suicidal ideation were provided an environment emphasizing a network of mental health and developmental disabilities services. T he focus of programing was the application of psychiatric rehabilitati on principles and environmental behavior support strategies. Component s of the treatment model included goal-setting, comprehensive case man agement, social skills training, positive reinforcement, crisis interv ention, competency-based skills teaching, medication monitoring, data- based outcome measurement, and community-living arrangements. Results indicated that in contrast to their preintervention status, all indivi duals demonstrated significant reductions in targeted behaviors, maint ained extended placement within the community without emergency hospit alizations, developed effective and adaptive social skills, secured jo b placement, and reported satisfaction with their quality of life.