A project was designed to reduce the turnover of direct care staff in a community-based residential facility that provides a home and educational or adult day training services for 54 severely or profoundly mentally and physically handicapped children and adults. The project sought to reduce total staff turnover by 40%, reduce employee terminations by 20%, demonstrate a 20% reduction in resignations that are due to client frustration, improve the staff's client interaction skills, and increase the staff's knowledge about the target population. Causes of voluntary resignations of staff were analyzed, and these factors were considered in the development of a 40-hour orientation program. The program focused on increasing staff self-awareness and broadening knowledge of the agency and target population, and used a variety of learning modes including on-the-job training. The turnover reduction objective was not met, but other objectives were successfully met or surpassed. Includes eight references. (JDD)