| In providing residential services to a person with mental |
| retardation, whether directly or by contractual or other |
| agreement, the department shall give preference to residential |
| services provided in private homes over residential services |
| provided in privately operated or agency-operated residential |
| care facilities.__The department shall undertake an initiative to |
| provide information to the public regarding opportunities for |
| providing residential services for persons with mental |
| retardation, including training on mental retardation and the |
| requirements for obtaining approval as a private home provider of |
| residential services. |
