PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TOWARD ERASING THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED. MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN RECOGNIZING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE RETARDED CHILD THROUGH SUBSTANTIAL LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY MANY BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, ACTION PROGRAMS STEMMING FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SOURCES, AND A MOUNTING RESEARCH EFFORT. IN AN EFFORT TO GET AT CAUSATION OF MENTAL RETARDATION, THE 1,663 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION PLANNING AMENDMENTS AUTHORIZED GRANTS AS WELL AS AN APPROPRIATION, ADMINISTERED BY THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU, TO HELP STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE PROGRAMS OF COMPREHENSIVE MATERNITY AND INFANT CARE FOR WOMEN. THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATES IS WORKING TOWARD THE RECOGNITION OF ALL THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD IN A PROGRAM OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES. IT IS TRYING TO MAKE THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE CHILD IN HIS HOME IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CHILD'S PROBLEM IS MENTAL RETARDATION OR CULTURAL DEPRIVATION. THE BUREAU IS ALSO ENCOURAGING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS WHICH MAY ADD NEW DIMENSIONS TO THE KINDS OF SERVICES WHICH COULD BE PROVIDED IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. MANY OF THE ACCELERATED PROGRAMS OF THE BUREAU ARE DISCUSSED. THE BUREAU IS ALSO INTERESTED IN HEALTH AND WELFARE BEYOND THE NATIONAL BORDERS AND HAS DEVELOPED A RESEARCH PROGRAM TO THIS EXTENT.