The basic factors considered in arriving at this area delineation are as follows: 1. The delineated areas must be of sufficient size to permit the development of a wide range of services consistent with the needs of the mentally retarded and give full consideration to all levels of retardation and age groupings. 2. Each area should contain at least one major metropolitan population center. 3. Time required to travel from home to service should not be a deterent to the full utilization of the available or planned services and should, to a significant degree, follow normal travel patterns within the State. 4. Areas planned must take into consideration the availability of trained personnel to staff the services. 5. The location of medical centers, educational facilities, and other service facilities for the mentally retarded must be considered in the designation of the areas. Area I. Metropolitan Providence This area, composed of three cities, is the smallest in geographic area and is the largest in population. This area is highly urbanized and has an abundance of medical care and educational facilities including five general hospitals, two voluntary psychiatric hospitals and the Rhode Island Medical Center, five institutions of higher learning, and five facilities for the mentally retarded. Area II. Northern area This area is composed of three cities and nine towns and is second largest of the four areas both in terms of population and geography. One-half of its land area is rural in nature and the remaining half is both urban and suburban. There are four general hospitals serving this area and the State's chronic disease hospital (Zambarano Memorial Hospital) is also located here, as well as one other facility for the mentally retarded. Area III. Southern area This area of the State is largest of the four areas in geography and third largest in population. The area, while primarily rural in nature, does possess two heavily populated communities; namely, Warwick and Westerly, in addition to the other 14 towns. This area contains three general hospitals, the University of Rhode Island and the Ladd School, which is the mental retardation institution for the State of Rhode Island. Area IV. Southeastern area The smallest of the four areas in population, this area is third largest in geography. The city of Newport is highly urbanized while Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Middletown may be characterized as suburban and Tiverton and Little Compton as rural. There is one general hospital in the area located within the city of Newport, and three colleges, two in Newport and one in Barrington. Each of the four areas has one or more active chapters of the Rhode Island Association for Retarded Children. In addition, all of the four areas contain major travel arteries between population centers in the areas. Within any given area the travel time between any two points does not exceed 45 minutes. Existing facilities for the mentally retarded (1) Rhode Island Department of Health-Mental retardation program. (2) Mental hygiene services (mental retardation program). (3) John E. Fogarty Center. (4) Meeting Street School-Children's rehabilitation center. (5) Community Workshops of Rhode Island and Goodwill Industries. Programed facilities (6) Providence-Day-care facility, residential facility, and diagnostic and evaluation clinic. (7) Cranston-Day-care facility and residential facility. (8) East Providence-Day-care facility. |