Experimental preadmission program to encourgage home care for severely and profoundly retarded children.

An experimental treatment program was designed to reduce institutionalization of severely and profoundly retarded children under 6 years of age. Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Results showed that counseling with the mother alone tends to result in increased marital conflict as well as a decision to keep the child at home, particularly for parents who are uncertain about their plans and hopes for the child. Since this conflict could defeat the real purpose of fostering the welfare of the child, family counseling should be used and consensus within the family should be sought. Instructing the mother in child-training procedures tends to reduce the number of instances of objectionable child behavior, as well as to induce a decision to keep the child at home, particularly for parents who are uncertain about their hopes and plans for the child.