DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
12:HS
April 20, 1959

CHILDREN'S BUREAU

Hon. John E. Fogarty
House of Representatives
Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Mr. Fogarty:

On April 15 I met with the representatives of the Rhode Island
parents! group for mentally retarded children and with members of the
Health Department staff for a discussion of the status of the mental
retardation program. Those participating included Dr. Corrigan, Dr.
Taft, and other staff members of the mental retardation clinic, and
Mr. Michaelis and Mr. Goff of the parents' groupe

The conference provided a long overdue opportunity for the
parents' group and Dr. Corrigan and Dr. Taft to get together and clear
-up some misunderstandings. There was good feeling evident at the end
of the conference which was not the case when it started.

The problem basically is that the requests for admission to the
clinic are increasing and are beginning to create a long waiting list.
The number of cases seen at the clinic each year is about 210, which
is just about the same as the clinics in other States, Everyone is
agreed that the quality of service is good, but there is not nearly
enough service to meet the need, The amount of parent counselling is
likewise insufficient. The psychiatric consultant, Dr. Franek, who sees
about one-third of the children, but is not paid, made the excellent
suggestion that group parent counselling be started, The parents' group
also had the feeling that the Health Department could get an increase
in their grant from the Children's Bureau if they would ask for ite They
did not realize that all of our maternal and child health funds are allo-
cated. The parents! group did not know that the Rhode Island salary
scale is low--for example the salary for a trained psychiatric social
worker is only %,000-%5,000 which is what quite a few secretaries re-
ceive.,,

These and a number of other questions and problems were thoroughly
discussed and cleared the way for considering what steps should be taken
in order that the program can improve and develop further into a community
service that will begin to provide what Rhode Island needs, The follow-
ing are the principal conclusions which were reacheds
‘Hon. John E. Fogarty ))-20-59

1. The parents' group is going to the Covernor
to try to get action from the merit system on rais-
ing the salaries of the clinic staff or at least to
get agreement to appoint staff at higher than the enter-
ing salarye Some action such as this is essential if
good staff is to be employed and retained.

2. Admission policies will give emphasis to the
younger children,

3. The Health Department will request an increase
in the grant for next fsscal year so as to enlarge the
clinic staff and admit more children.

lh. The psychiatrist should be paid for his services.
He and the clinic staff could make an important contri-
bution to services for retarded children with nationwide
implications by developing a program of group counselling
for parents.

Se More frequent conferences of the parents! group
and the Health Department and clinic staff should prevent
the recurrences of misunderstanding,

6. In order to plan future program development,
serious consideration should be given to a State conference
with representation from health, education, mental hygiene,
welfare, vocational rehabilitation, parents' and other
citizens' groups to discuss next steps. I think such a
conference could contribute a great deal to increasing the
participants' understanding about objectives and the means
of achieving goals.

I know that you are greatly rushed just now, but if you have a
chance to see me either before you go to Europe or afterwards, I
would be glad to talk with you further about this.

Sincerely yours,

Lesere

Arthur J. Lesser, M.D.
Director
Division of Health Services