| Abstract: | Crisis services for persons with developmental disabilities who display challenging behaviors is rapidly emerging as a critical need for individuals placed in the community. Many states continue to close their large state facilities for persons with developmental disabilities. Challenging behaviors impedes successful living in the community. A questionnaire providing information on the types of challenging behavior, the availability and perceived need for on-site and off-site crisis-respite support services, and the optimal method of accessing community-based crisis services, was sent to Minnesota residential facilities in the metropolitan and rural areas. The results revealed commonalities between these respondents as well as the differences. As the national trend of deinstitutionalization continues, the information derived from this study will be useful for the development of crisis services in other states. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
