Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-15
Spread Of Delinquency
Traced 10 Lack Of
Guidance Clinics

the road to public institution un-
checked for want of child guidance
clinics in Washington, 1t was
charged today.
The condition was pointed out
when DR.. Louis Jacobs, chief med
ical officer at the National Training
School for Boys, told colored recre-
alton workers they should refer
seriously maladjusted children to
psychiatrist.
1--WE recognize them" the workers
retorted. Frequently we see tough
boys we know will end up in the
training school. They disappear.
We hear that they have been COM
mitted by the Juvenile Court. But
to whom could we have sent them?"
DR.. Jacobs said there was no an
swer. Even the psychiatric clinic Of
the Juvenile Court has been Grip
pied since its psychiatrist left for
better-paying private practice in
March, he said. DR.. Jacobs ex-
pressed the opinion that the post
would remain vacant until the $500
salary is increased. Although he
visits the court to treat some of the
most serious cases, DR.. Jacobs said
he did not have time to do "a real
job"
Clinic Cases Pile Up.
DR.. Leopold Wexberg. head of the
Health Departments Mental Hy-
giene Clinic, who has inaugurated
a child consultation service IN CO.
operation with the public schools,
reported he has a backlog Of Is
white cases and as many colored
waiting for treatment.
With the closing of schools, the
Mental Hygiene Clinic will treat
children from 1870 to 4:30 pm.
Wednesday and Thursday at 1740
Massachusetts, avenue NV. DR..
Wexberg said he could not begin
to meet the need until Congress
appropriates money for child
guidance clinic. The Health De-
partment's budget now before Con-
gress calls for one additional full
time psychiatrist and on parttime,
another psychologist and two more
case workers.
The report of the Juvenile Court
issued this week points out the need
for social agencies. child guidance
clinics and adequate medical facil-
tiles providing professional consul
tation and treatment to children
and their parents.
1.-THE community must be willing
to pay the price for salvaging the
individual" it asserts. "At present,
the community is paying the price
for its lacks through building bigger
and better penal Institutions and
mental hospitals"
Seek to Fill Post.
Although the salary for the Juve-
nile Courts psychiatrist is provided
in the District budget, he is hired
by the United States Public Health
Service. Miss Virginia Clary, direc-
tor of social work at the court, said
the health service is trying to find
some one.
The courts psychologist can help
in testing children and can solve
educational problems but can not
treat some Of the serious emotional
and mental cases handled by the,
court, she said. a. 49,.
In 1945, the psychiatrist inter-
viewed 500 patients and gave extern
sive treatment to all. He discovered
nine children were suffering from
psychoneurosis, seven from schizo-
phrenia. Four had psychopathic
personalities. Three had inadequate
personalities.
Children with low I. Q.s and phys
ical defects needed his help in
overcoming their handicaps. Trac-
ing emotional upsets and anti
social attitudes to childrens bad en-
vironments the psychiatrist coun-
seled both children and parents
Many were treated and placed on
probation. Only a few had to be
committed to institutions.
DR.. Jacobs pointed out the recrea-
ton worker can destroy his work
with a group by trying too hard to
give individual attention to the
misf1t. He advised the workers to
give the bad child" responsibility
but not to make pet of him.
Soothing at the idea that adequate
recreation facilities would solve the
problem of juvenile delinquency, DR..
Jacobs emphasized that you can't
treat everything with one type pro-
gram" and advised recreation work.
ers to accept the fact when a child
becomes too much for them to
handle.
Children learn either to fight or
to adjust to society before they are
IL years DID," he said. Even the
National Training School recognizes
that it can not rehabilitate even 10
per cent of its charges"