THE RESEARCH STUDY INVESTIGATED HOW MOTHERS OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN PERCEIVED THE RETARDATION, HOW THEY MADE DECISIONS IN SEEKING AND USING HELP, AND HOW THEY REACTED TO AND VALUED SERVICES RENDERED. THE 24 SUBJECTS WERE MOTHERS WHOSE RETARDED CHILDREN WERE CLASSIFIED BRAIN INJURED (INCLUDING MONGOLOID), HAD IQ'S BELOW 54, AND WERE LESS THAN 10 YEARS OF AGE. A FIELD STUDY APPROACH WITH A FOCUSED INTERVIEW WAS EMPLOYED. IN ADDITION, INTERVIEW DATA, CASE RECORDS, RELATED DOCUMENTS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE CLINIC STAFF WERE ANALYZED. INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON (1) THE CHILDREN, THE FAMILIES, AND THE SERVICE PROGRAM, (2) THE MOTHERS, AND (3) THE SERVICES OF THE CLINIC. IMPLICATIONS ARE DRAWN FROM THE SUMMARY, FINDINGS, AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY. SIGNIFICANT SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE ARE DISCUSSED. APPENDIXES GIVE (1) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILIES, (2) ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPS, (3) DATA GUIDE, AND (4) RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT'S PANEL ON MENTAL RETARDATION. A BIBLIOGRAPHY LISTS 151 ENTRIES. THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED BY CHARLES C THOMAS, BANNERSTONE HOUSE, 301-327 EAST LAWRENCE AVENUE, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62703, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR $6.75. (DF)