Reinstitutionalization of mentally retarded persons successfully placed into family-care and group homes

The characteristics of clients currently living successfully in the community but previously reinstitutionalized were compared with those of clients who had remained continuously in the community since their initial placement from an institution. Results showed that, overall, returnees could be discriminated from nonreturnees primarily by their higher level of maladaptive behavior. Separate comparisons of these two groups among family-care and group-home residents, however, did not consistently identify the same differentiating factors. Results indicate that although reinstitutionalized clients can be placed back into the community, their success in remaining there may depend upon characteristics of the setting into which they are placed.