A statewide survey of CMHC programs for mentally retarded individuals.

Although community mental health centers appear to have a mandate to serve mentally retarded children, adults, and their families, there is little evidence that adequate treatment actually is being provided. In a survey of the CMHCs in the state of Washington in 1979, the authors found that only about 1,500 of the estimated 22,500 retarded individuals with a potential for emotional disorder were actually being treated in the centers. Moreover, very few of the centers kept records of the intellectual ability of clients, and only about half had a staff specialist in retardation. The barriers to increasing the scope and frequency of services are discussed, as is the potential of continuing education training to improve mental retardation services in the mental health system.