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3. The Cabarrus Workshop. 4. Special education programs in the public schools. 5. Recreation programs through the Association for Retarded Citizens' Special Olympics and the Y.M.C.A. 6. Respite services. 7. A new five bed ICF-~ is scheduled to open this summer. ISSUE 1 - The Need. ~ile Cabarrus County has made s significant start in developing a broad range of services for its handicapped citizens, there is no doubt that there are many individuals who have a desperage need for a residential service, I am sure that each County Commissioner is familiar with the Cabarrus County family that has a significant need for a residential placement for a handicapped family member. There are also twenty-four Cabarrus County mentally retarded residents housed in state facilities in Morganton and Goldsboro ~lo could be more appropriately served mn the connty if sufficient resources were available. There is no doubt that Cabarrus has the need for additional residential beds for its mentally retarded citizens. ISSUE 2 - The Proposed Size of the Howell Center. As I expressed to the Board at its January meeting, I have difficulty with the 120 bed size of the proposed Howell facility. While a 120 bed facility is a significant improvement over the 500 bed facility at Western Carolina Center, it does mot begin co approach tile quality of life in the ten bed or five bed group homes that we have already developed in Cabarrus County. Does size make s difference? I believe ~hat both scientific studies and random interviews with retarded cinizens leads one to the unmistakeable conclusion that size does make s difference and that smaller is better. However, the Howell facility has received its certificate of need from the HSA and the beds are needed There is also little funding on the horizon for additional small residential group homes similar to the ones we have already established in Cabarrus County. ISSUE 3 - Admission to the Howell Facility. When tile Howell Center went through its certificate of need process with the }{SA, it was based on the identified needs of the eight counties within the HSA (Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Cabarrus, Stanly, Union and Mecklenburg). It is critically important to me that admissions to this facility come from' these eight counties. ~lso, the admissions should be based on some type of per capita formula. If this were done, Cabarrus County would receive about ten of the' 120 beds. _Suggestion_--The lease agreement between the Howell Center and the proposed private nonprofit corporation created by the Cabarrus County Commissioners should contain I