Understanding the parents who are mentally retarded: guidelines for family preservation programs

This article reviews eight programs in New York State that provide parenting training and direct assistance to parents who are mentally retarded. Common lessons learned by the programs are discussed and guidelines are set forth on staffing, family enrollment and retention, service provision, and risk-management practices for work with similar clients. The families in these programs are briefly profiled, based on data collected on approximately half of the parents and children.