Group homes for the mentally retarded: a study of community and freedom

Through a case study, this study examines the organizational structure of group homes for the mentally retarded. The case study is found to represent a new form of communal organization according to Hillery's theory of communal organization (1968; 1978). As a communal organization, the structural measures utilized to maximize freedom in this group home are examined. A discussion of the implications of this study towards community theory and the management of group homes follows.