Affairs Committee, thereby knowing something of the manpower availability throughout the country, I would say that the greater D.C. area and the Ann Arbor area are known throughout the country as the more prestigious, more available sources of manpower. Mr. FOWLER. Mr. Chairman, I know the hour is growing very short. I have two requests to make of you. We have a list of seventeen organizations that support our position and I would like to have that submitted for the record. I will not read the names of the organizations at this time. Mr. MCMILLAN. How many of these statements do you think we should have inserted in the hearing in addition? Mr. FOWLER. Oh, we can give you as many as you need, sir. We have seventeen organizations, sir. Mr. MCMILLAN. Well, we will include the complete statements. (The documents referred to follow:) LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SUBMITTING SUPPORTING STATEMENTS Alliance for Psychiatric Progress Christ Child Institute Concerned Citizens for Exceptional Children D.C. Association for Retarded Children D.C. Council for Exceptional Children D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education D.C. Congress of Parents and Teachers Mark Twain School Medical Society of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area Mental Health Advisory Council Washington School of Psychiatry Washington Teachers Union Washington Urban League Mrs. ROBERT MARTIN, ALLIANCE FOR PSYCHIATRIC PROGRESS, March 13, 1972. Public Affairs Committee, D.C. Mental Health Association, Washington, D.C. DEAR MRS. MARTIN: The Alliance for Psychiatric Progress wishes to take this opportunity to strongly endorse the development of the Residential Treatment Centers as outlined by the Mental Health Administration. The paucity of service for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in the District of Columbia is a problem whose ramification affect every segment of our community. This new venture should be seen as the first step in a massive expansion of services to children and adolescents. The Alliance for Psychiatric Progress, therefore, urges the Congress to lend its support by means of adequate funding and legislation proposals put forth before you today by the D.C. Mental Health Association. Sincerely, LEON WHITT, M.D., President. Mrs. LLOYD SYMINTON, THE CHRIST CHILD INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN, DEAR NANCY: This letter is my reaction to the D.C. Mental Health Association Committee's Statement of Principles on devices for Emotionally Disturbed Children in the District of Columbia. I enthusiastically agree with the statement. There must be a spectrum of mental health services from the simplest and earliest preventive measures at one end to the most elaborate intervention for the most disturbed children at the other end. As Clinical Director of Christ Child Institute, I have a particular interest in and knowledge about residential facilities, and I would like to emphasize the great unmet need in the District for such help. This type of care is expensive but essential for certain children to become functioning adults. Aside from consideration of human suffering, such facilities much more than pay for themselves economically by turning children who are sure to be burdens on society in jails or state hospitals into assets to their communities. These facilities need to be near the child's home so that parental visiting and psychotherapy for parents is not impaired by the obstacle of distance (such as we experience with District residents). I disagree with the idea of making facilities for only ten children. The children need to be grouped according to age, academic and social abilities. This requires around twenty-five to thirty children aged 5 to 12. Otherwise, you must limit admissions to those children who will fit in with the children you have. Adolescents should be in a separate facility. The question about the number of beds needed in the District is a most difficult one to estimate. We are talking not about the number of severely disturbed children but the number who can use treatment, for tragically substantial numbers are beyond even ideal treatment. Using some knowledge of the Junior Village population as a rough gauge, I would say it is safe to consider the need running well into three figures, and it could be several hundred. I hope this will be of a little help toward a very important goal. Sincerely, WILLIAM B. CLOTWORTHY, Jr., M.D. CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, Chairman, House District Committee, DEAR SIR: We submit the following supportive statement in regard to hearings before your committee on March 14, 1972 with the D.C. Mental Health Association for residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children and a special education law for all physically and mentally handicapped children. Our organization encompasses over 25 agencies serving all of the handicapping conditions, in addition to parents of the physically and mentally handicapped and interested citizens. TREATMENT CENTERS FOR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN The District of Columbia and its mental health administration under the Department of Human Resources has never substantially addressed itself to the needs of the emotionally disturbed child. This is the child who becomes excluded from school, who is most likely to get in trouble with the law, or winds up at St. Elizabeth's because no community based treatment center is available, often only a temporary need. Residential treatment facilities in each Health Área of the city for about 20 children each, are an absolute necessity in the care of the emotionally disturbed. These centers would provide comprehensive, professionallydirected services which could be coordinated with other existing services like the public schools or a job training situation. We recommend the possibility of seriously considering a mechanism whereby these publicly funded centers might perhaps be privately serviced in order that needy children do not get lost within the labryinth of the Department of Human Resources. SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW FOR ALL PHYSICALLY AND Our efforts on behalf of the right of the handicapped to receive a publicly funded education have proven to us that extensive, detailed legislation governing the rights of all physically and mentally handicapped children, is a long overdue necessity in the District of Columbia. Recent exposure of problems at Forest Haven (the District's residential institution for the retarded) and problems concerning exclusion of handicapped children from the public schools, as evidenced by a class action suit now in process against the District Government, all point to an urgent need for a special education law. Many states, over 50%, have enacted detailed laws governing the rights of all mentally and physically handicapped children. The District's statute reads as follows: the board of education may issue a certificate excusing a child from attendance if the child is found mentally or physically unable to profit from attendance in school, upon examination ordered by the board. If the examination shows that the child may benefit from specialized instruction adapted to his needs, he shall attend if such instruction is available." In view of the above statute which gives none of the advantages to the handicapped we feel it is urgent that the duties of both the public school and the Department of Human Resources be made a matter of law in relation to the education and training of the physically and mentally handicapped. We request the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you at a later date. Respectfully submitted, RALPH WITTENBERG, M.D., President, Concerned Citizens for Exceptional Children. D.C. ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN, INC., March 7, 1972. Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, Chairman, House District Committee, DEAR SIR: It is our understanding that the D.C. Mental Health Association will be appearing before your Committee on March 14, 1972 in order to present proposals on, a) residential treatment centers for the emotionally disturbed, b) a special education law for physically and mentally handicapped children. Our organization concurs with the D.C. Mental Health Association in urging the establishment of small (20 children) residential treatment facilities in each Health Area in the District of Columbia. The District has never provided adequate, publicly funded, professionally-directed services for the emotionally disturbed child. These centers would fill a glaring gap and are urgently needed. We concur also that an urgent need exists in the District of Columbia, for the establishment of a mandatory special education law to insure the right to public education of all physically and mentally handicapped children. Over 50% of the States have enacted such laws, covering not only education, but placement and screening procedures, and many other important components protecting the handicapped and their rights in our society. The District of Columbia statutes provide the following: the board of education may issue a certificate excusing a child from attendance if the child is found mentally or physically unable to profit from attendance in school, upon examination ordered by the board. If the examination shows that the child may benefit from specialized instruction adapted to his needs, he shall attend if such instruction is available." (Emphasis added.) Our organization is in the process of working on draft legislation for mandatory, comprehensive special education for all physically and mentally handicapped children, including provisions for early screening and diagnosis. We hope for favorable action during this session of Congress. Respectfully submitted, ROBERT L. BOSTOCK, Co-Chairmen, Governmental Affairs Committee. WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7, 1972. Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, Chairman, House District Committee, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. DEAR CHAIRMAN MCMILLAN: As teachers in Special Education we know there is a dire need for a public residential psychiatric treatment program for emotionally disturbed children in the District of Columbia. It should provide comprehensive professionally-directed services for the children in collaboration with their parents or foster parents close to the home. For continuity and consistency, the program should include residential treatment facilities providing a therapeutic living experience. The lack of such facilities represents a glaring gap in public treatment services needed for emotionally disturbed children at this time. We concur with the D.C. Mental Health Association in urging the establishment of one such small (20 children) residential treatment facility in each Health Area. These are necessary components of a continuum of comprehensive care (from preventive services to aftercare and rehabilitation) which can be coordinated with the services of other existing agencies. Very sincerely, ORELIA W. LEDBETTER, President, Chapter 49, D.C., Council for Exceptional Children. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CITIZENS MEMORANDUM To: House District of Columbia Committee. From: D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education, Inc. Subject: Legislation Regarding Special Education Programs in the District of Columbia. D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education strongly supports the enactment of a special education law for the District of Columbia, outlining public concern and responsibility for the education of all handicapped children. Nothing illustrates the need of such a law as clearly as the wording of the present statute which effectively absolves the school system of any responsibility for that portion of the student population in greatest need of educational services. We urge that the House District of Columbia Committee give first priority to a more meaningful law and the necessary funds to support it. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, Washington, D.C., March 7, 1972. Chairman, House District Committee, U.S. Capitol, DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN: A special education law is needed in the District of Columbia to establish public policy and to protect the right to public education for all physically and mentally handicapped children. At least 50% of the States already have enacted such laws, many in great detail. In contrast, the District of Columbia statutes provide the following: “... the board of education may issue a certificate excusing a child from attendance if the child is found mentally or physically unable to profit from attendance in school, upon examination ordered by the board. If the examination shows that the child may benefit from specialized instruction adapted to his needs, he shall attend if such instruction is available." This "provision" leaves these especially vulnerable children completely unprotected and at the mercy of administrators who are not mandated to assure that the services are made available. It is essential that these children's rights be made a matter of law. Also, there is a dire need for a public residential psychiatric treatment program for emotionally distrubed children in the District of Columbia. It should provide comprehensive professionally-directed services for the children in collaboration with their parents or foster parents close to the home. For continuity and consistency, the program should include residential facilities providing a therapeutic living experience. The lack of such facilities represents a glaring gap in public treatment of services needed for emotionally distrubed children at this time. The D.C. Congress of Parents and Teachers concurs with the D.C. Mental Health Association in urging the establishment of one small (20 children) residential treatment facility in each Health Area. These are necessary components of a continuum of comprehensive care (from preventive services to aftercare and rehabilitation) which can be coordinated with the services of other existing agencies. Sincerely, Mrs. PETER ANGELOS, Chairman, Mental Health Committee, D.C. Congress of Parents and Teachers. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, JULIETTE M. SIMMONS, M.D., District of Columbia Mental Health Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. DEAR DR. SIMMONS: The D.C. Psychological Association is very pleased to support your efforts for small residential treatment settings for emotionally disturbed children and for a law providing mandatory education and training for physically and mentally handicapped children. Enclosed is a letter I have drafted to Representative McMillan for this purpose. When I read your letter and the statements you had enclosed to our Board of Directors there was some subsequent discussion regarding the possibility of our own Association taking a more active role in legislative matters of this nature. Would it be possible for me to meet with you or other members of your Association to explore the possibility of our working more closely on these issues of mutual concern? If you feel such a meeting would be useful please contact me at 443–3527. Sincerely, ALLEN RASKIN, Ph.D., President, D.C. Psychological Association. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN, March 8, 1972. House District Committee, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: Recognizing the need for a public residential psychiatric treatment program for emotionally disturbed children in the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Psychological Association concurs with the D.C. Mental Health Association in urging the establishment of small residential treatment facilities in each Health area. The opportunities for comprehensive care and individualized treatment will be immeasurably enhanced in such settings in contrast to the treatment these children would receive in a large institutional setting. The Board of Directors of our Association also urge support of a special education law for the District of Columbia to protect the right to public education for all physically and mentally handicapped children. Present statutes in the District of Columbia provide for such specialized training on the basis of examination and only "if such instruction is available.' We would be very grateful for your support of these proposals. Very truly yours, MRS. BETTY MARTIN, ALLEN RASKIN, Ph.D., President, D.C. Psychological Association. Mental Health Association of Washington D.C., MARK TWAIN SCHOOL, Rockville, Md., March 2, 1972. DEAR MRS. MARTIN: Dr. Juliette Simmons suggested that I write to you in regard to a forthcoming meeting of your committee with Congressman McMillan. It has been recognized for many years by those of us concerned with services to the mentally ill that facilities for those unable to pay or to pay much are terribly inadequate. This inadequacy is compounded when we consider facilities for mentally ill children as highlighted by the report of the Joint Commission on Mentally Ill Children. This deficiency exists to a serious degree in the City of Washington as well, of course, as in other cities. Services provided by such facilities should include provisions for prevention, early detection with intervention, residential services when needed and provision for follow-up. Such services are greatly relevant to our interest in reducing the incidence of delinquency, crime and family breakdown. I endorse your efforts and wish you success. GEORGE P. BROWN, M.D., Child Psychiatrist, Mark Twain School (Formerly Supt., Institute for Children, Owings Mills, Maryland). |