SERVICE INTEGRATION FOR DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION (SID) WAS A THREE-YEAR RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE. THE PROJECT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG 12 STATE AGENCIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY COUNTERPARTS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEMATIC, SERVICE-INTEGRATING PROCEDURE FOR THE ORDERLY DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RESIDENTS OF STATE AND MENTAL HOSPITALS, TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED, AND TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. A PROCEDURAL MODEL TO MEET THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OBJECTIVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SERVICE INTEGRATION METHODOLOGY WAS DEVELOPED AND DEMONSTRATED WITH APPROXIMATELY 500 CLIENTS FROM 2 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS HOUSED AT 11 STATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. THE MODEL EMBODIES FIVE SOCIOTECHNICAL COMPONENTS, EACH OF WHICH ACTS AS A SERVICE-INTEGRATING MECHANISM DURING THE FLOW OF CLIENT PROCESSING: ASSESSMENT AND PRESCRIPTION TEAM; BROKER ADVOCATE; AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM; QUALITY CONTROL TEAM; AND COMMITTEE OF COMMISSIONERS. THE STUDY INCLUDED A COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS DESIGNED TO ASCERTAIN THE FISCAL WISDOM OF CONTINUED INSTITUTIONALIZATION VERSUS COMMUNITY PLACEMENT. STRUCTURE OF THE MODEL IS SUCH THAT IT MAY BE EXTENDED INTO OTHER GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OR APPLIED IN OTHER STATES. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS BASED ON BOTH FACTUAL OBSERVATIONS AND HYPOTHESES ARE PRESENTED BY VOLUME. THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE MODEL PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BE MAINTAINED UNDER PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING AND PHASED INTO OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN VIRGINIA OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. A FURTHER RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE SID PROGRAM BE INSTITUTIONALIZED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 20 OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, WITH 75 PERCENT FEDERAL FUNDS MATCHED WITH 25 PERCENT STATE FUNDS. FOR ADDITIONAL VOLUMES, SEE NCJ-47644-47651. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)