Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-12
Health Council
Strengthening
Asked in Survey
Coordination of
Work in Metropolitan
Jurisdictions Urged
By Harold B. ROGERS

q ui'ioioll vi tne council OF SOcla
Agencies, should be STRENGTHENED
and "geared in with the PROPOSED
Metropolitan Social Planning Coun.
ell for the National Capital area
according to recommendations ir
chapter XVIII of the metropolitan
Health and Hospital Survey.
While the survey had limited al
this suggestion in an earlier chapter
it expanded the idea into MANY more
details in its report today, which
reviewed the work of the IS volun.
tary health agencies of the whole
area.
The Metropolitan Social Planning
Council, it was explained by those
familiar with the new move, is the
proposed organization expected tt
grow out of the welfare" survey b,
the Council of Social Agencies, which
still Is under way. The welfare
survey is entirely separate from the
health and hospital survey.
In Line With Trend.
This new overall planning coun-
Gil would be an extra step in the
trend recently taking place to tie
in many different phases of activ-
tiles in the six political Jurisdictions
have been the formation of the
new Community Chest Federation
which succeeds the Community Wal
Fund, and the attempt of the Wash
ington Board of Trade to integrate
more closely the economic and bust
ness life of the entire Metropolitan
area.
R C ON m e n ding changes tc
strengthen the Metropolitan Health
Council, which sponsored the health
and hospital survey with funds
from the former Community Wal
Fund, the survey declared it hac
been pointed out during confer.
ences with representative from al
over the area, that diseases do not
recognize boundary lines"
While the Health Council needs
certain autonomy said the report
1T is highly important that the
organization structure provide tina,
it be geared in with an overall
Metropolitan Social Planning Coun-
Gil"
The survey recommended: "Ap-
proprlate representation from al
utilization as component part OF
the proposed Metropolitan Socia,
Planning Council. -
Adequate Staff Urged.
AN adequate staff of qualified
personnel to involve appoint
ment of an experienced executive
who may also serve as health con-
sultant for the overall Metropoli
tan Social Planning Council - =
THE present secretary will be
needed as an associate. (She is Miss
Elizabeth Harvey) 49,
There should be. consultant in
health education and a consMtant
in nutrition. ="
"A research and statistics staff
member will be needed"
Many other recommendations fol-
the Metropolitan Health Council
were listed in the chapter today
similar in vein to proposals made
throughout the other II chapters
previously made public in detail.
The chapter listed 40 recon-
mendations. 1t organized the pre-
viously scattered recommendations
on the different agencies under
geographical heads, such as the Dis
trict, Alexandria and the contiguous
counties.
Voluntary Units Praised.
Praising the voluntary agencies in
the area, the report said they form
a permanent and important part of
the health machinery and reflect
the generosity, genius and goodwill
of thousands of men and women
who give time and money"
In conclusion pointing to the
future, the report declares:
"Conf1icting demands of agencies
each of which is concerned with a
special period of life, tend to create
confusion in the public mind, and
sometimes lead to inequalities in the
distribution of funds. Our concern
is with people and families, This is
no time for complacancy nor fol-
vested interests to block cooperative
action. 1t is a time for continuing
critical self analysis of detectives
of quality and quantity of service
of relationships between agencies
and of unmet needs. The situation
requires alertness to changes anc
readiness to join forces if necessary
to improve community activities.
Eve need mutual understanding
of problems, resources and respon-
sibilities. We need faith in each
other and in our jobs and in oul
common objective. Metropolitan
Washington has resources for un-
surpassed leadership and can readily
develop more dynamic and effec-
tive plan of operation to strengthen
the battle line and move forward
tn new Victories in hoo1tl,