Evening star., 1952-03-11
Shea Offers Program
TO Coordinate City's
for Children
Special Committee
Would Be Composed Of
: Department Chiefs

A special committee to co-or-
dinate all activities of the city
government dealing with children
was suggested today by Gerard M
Shea. Welfare Department d.
rector.
Mr.. Shea made the suggestion
to the District Commissioners a'
the city heads regular meeting.
The welfare director proposed I
committee composed of the headl
of all city departments dealing
with children. This would includ,
the Health Department, schools
the Recreation Department. tn.
library and the police.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono.
hue asked Mr.. Shea If the Boart
of Public Welfare had approved
the idea. He was told the boarC
had not, but that informal dis
cussions had been held with va
rious members.
Mr.. Shea said he would poll the
board to see how its members feel
about the matter officially. After
that Is done. Mr.. Donohue said hi
would call a meeting of the various
department heads to discuss the
idea.
Can't Be Isolated.
Mr.. Shea started the idea Feb
ruary 19 in letter to Mr.. Dono-
hue, who Supervises the Welfare
Department. His appearance be-
fore the Commissioners today was
to present his idea personally.
The letter read, in part:
I'm the administration of the
public welfare program, it becomes
more and more apparent that well
fare. like many other functions Of
the District government, cannot
be considered as an isolated seq
ment.
I'VE find a continual need for
closer coordination with the pub
Lie school system, the Department
OF Health, the police department,
the Recreation Department and
other similar departments We are
trying, constantly, to work with
these departments on an individ-
ual basis but we find that very
often we are required to deal
separately with the particular
units of these departments and
that occasionally the policies
within the department concerned
vary considerably"
It has occurred to us that It
might be helpful to. all concerned
If at the Commissioners level
there could be established q stand
ing committee or a small cabinet
to discuss and make
recommendations on matters af-
fecting the various departments.
It is felt that If this were possible.
on an official basis. more could be
gained than our present methods
Of informed discussions.
Proposal Outlined.
with this in mind, we are sub
mitting the following proposal for
your consideration:
Il. That there be established
by the Commissioners an inter-
departmental committee made up
Of the directors and deputy direc-
tors of those departments con-
sidered to have common problems.
70. This committee would meet
monthly with the Commissioner to
discuss prearranged agenda.
IS. That ad hoe working COM
consisting Of persons on
the operating level be appointed
from time to time to work with
.he interdepartmental commit
Tee on special projects Of mutual
concern.
IF you feel the above sugges-
ion has merit, I will be glad to
iiScuss it with you in further de-
all and submit Illustrations on
'ome of the points which I believe
he interdepartmental committee
;ould serve a useful purpose"
5ottwold in East Berlin
BERLIN, Mar. II R.-Czech
Klement Gottwald ar-I
ived in East Berlin this morning.
or o courtesy visit. He Is repay
GaA-A.I