The fourth in a series of four booklets on residential programing for mentally retarded persons aims at providing parents with basic information on the operational aspects of institutions so that they can form realistic strategies for implementing change. Negative attitudes of direct care, professional, and administrative staff toward innovative programing are considered. Resistance to change from direct care staff is said to result from adherence to established routines, intershift conflicts, loss of motivation through delays, lack of supervisory effectiveness, and lack of respect from professional aloofness. Illegitimate goals and misplaced concerns of administrative personnel are cited. Problems stemming from the bureaucratic system within which the institution operates are examined. Inservice training programs, redeployment of staff (departmental, unit, and cross modality approaches), and demonstration projects are discussed as means of implementing change. Recommendations for involving parents in decision making processes are included such as representing parents at staff meetings and using parents to obtain institutional access to community based facilities. (For related information, see EC 050 051 through EC 050 053.) (GW)