Discussed in general terms are various impediments to provision of services to the mentally handicapped through community mental health programs. The authors first state the most community health programs are ineffective in that they essentially ignore planning and provision of services to mentally handicapped persons. Then the authors attempt to determine reasons for the under-utilization of community health program resources. Probable reasons for lack of services discussed include: the social stigma attached to being mentally handicapped; patterns of American culture; attitudes of professional persons; attitudes of psychiatrists and psychiatric services; influences of various volunteer agencies; and systems impediments. In conclusion, guidelines are presented for designing a service delivery system, which include: define, analyze, and quantify problem; formulate solution; identify, quantify, and inventory resources required to implement solution; determine extent to which additional resources are required; develop information base that will justify allocation of necessary funds; recruit additional resources; implement solution; and evaluate solution. (CB)