Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-11

cause Of limited funds-tended
to specialize on certain children
to the exclusion of others equally
in need of help.
The consultants also noted
that the majority of professional
time in these clinics is devoted
to diagnosis rather than to treat
ing children once they have been
diagnosed.
The survey noted a startling
Ipaucity Of community effort" in
preventing mental illness in chill
dren, a lack of services to the
younger child and to the ado
lescent.
Our review" the consultants
reported, did not disclose any
well focused community wide
mental health program"
The consultants had been
asked whether the agency should
establish a new clinic, simply
provide psychiatric service for
its own cases or contribute funds
to expand one of the existing
clinics. The consultants favored
establishment of a new clinic.
The four existing clinics and
United Community Services all
heartily Endorsed the plan.
Support Obtained
Since the agency faces an an
nual deficit. financial support
had to come from elsewhere. !.
Mrs. Bazelon and Mr.. Lyon pre-
sented the problem at two lunch
con meetings and got the SIP
port.
A technical advisory commit
tee Of leaders in psychiatry and
social work-most of them con-
nected either with the other
clinics or with other family
agencies here-was appointed to
guide the new committee in
setting up the clinic.
Capt. Harold Plotsky, now a
IpSychiatrist serving in the out
patient mental health service at
Boiling Air Force Base, was
named psychiatric director of
the clinic. The 30-year-old psy-
chiatrist expects to be out of the
service by January is. when the
clinic will begin treating children
full time.
DR.. Plotsky, who is married
and the father of three children,
served his residency at the Men
ninger Foundation and his post
Iresidency fellowship at the
Southland Children's Psychiatric
Service of the Menninger Foun-
dation. He is expected to receive
an appointment to the staff Of
Children's Hospital.
Others on Team Named
The clinics psychiatric team
will also include two psychiatric
social workers and a psycholo-
gist. The chief psychiatric social
worker is Mrs. Pauline Shereshev-
sky, who set up the social serv-
ice at Glenn Dale Hospital, was
a supervisor at the Lasker Child |
Guidance Clinic in Jerusalem
and came to the Jewish Social
Service Agency staff as a marital T
counselor. DR.. Sol Charen of 1
the Montgomery County Mental l
Health Clinic will be psychol-
ogist,
Mr. Pikser said the agency has
been advised that with that psy-
chiatric team the clinic will be
able to handle no more than so
children a year. He said the
clinic intends to see each child
as frequently as is necessary
even daily-to insure intensive
pSychotherapy.
Fees will be based on income,
and the clinic will be located on
the remodeled second floor Of the
agency's building.
One Of the clinics goals is to
be certified for post-residency in
child psychiatry so that more
pSychiatrists can be trained in /
helping children.
Hopefully" said Mrs. Bazelon,
this is a pilot project for more
community activity for children.
Right now, we want to help fip /
a dire need that we know exist |
now"
The dedication of the clinic
will be part of the agency's an
nual meeting at 8 pm. tomorrow
in the Shoreham Hotel. Guest |
speaker will be Judge Wise Polier
of the Domestic Relations Court
Of New York City.