Clearly, this leaves the other adult groups starved of resources for residential placements.

Many others needed some kind of residential placement, but only a third needed a nursing home.

Nor are social workers' preconceptions changed by the experience of using residential placements.

Foster care costs the state less than $5,000 a year, he said, compared with $37,500 for residential placement.

Very few students in the United States today are in residential placement.

"We're awaiting residential placement, but the state takes forever," said one woman.

The schools offer both residential placements and day care.

Lasting change will involve more than just money for new hospital beds or additional residential placements.

You report that there are currently 1,132 people on waiting lists for residential placement.

Money to a family can reach as high as $60,000 a year, but the cost of a residential placement is $90,000 to $146,000 a year.