S. 1321 would be in the national interest and would greatly enhance the programs toward which the services envisioned might apply. Thank you very much for the consideration of this statement for the record. TESTIMONY ON SENATE BILL 1321 SUBMITTED BY JOSEPH C. DENNISTON, M.D., SUPERINTENDENT OF CLOVER BOTTOM HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL, DONELSON, TENN. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am Dr. Joseph C. Denniston, superintendent of a State-supported institution serving as residence for 1,400 mentally retarded individuals. My curriculum vitae includes the fact that I am a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics; fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics; clinical instructor of pediatrics at both Vanderbilt University Medical School and Meharry Medical College; former clinical director of the Pineland Hospital and Training School, Pownal, Maine; scientific societies and civic organization memberships are numerous but irrelevant to my testimony. I am neither the parent nor relative of any mentally retarded individual. My motivation is neither for political nor personal gain. I represent that segment of our Nation's population whose retardation precludes their own testimony. During the past decade tremendous strides have been achieved in the social, psychological, educational, and medical sciences. Research studies in all of these areas have established beyond the shadow of a doubt that there remains a tremendous potential of available human manpower lying dormant among this segment of our population. The retardate asks neither your pity nor charity, but merely the opportunity to develop his limited talents to the fullest. Throughout our Nation most State institutions continue to remain overcrowded, understaffed, and underbudgeted. In the past, legislative action has been sporadic, inadequate, and in many cases unrealistic. This has been occasioned by a lack of understanding, not only by the legislators, but by an uninformed public as well. State legislators faced with limited financial resources and multitude of service demands have channeled little into any program which did not manifest visible concrete evidence of productivity. I recognize that it is neither the responsibility of the State nor the Federal Government to furnish all the needs of this group of handicapped. Local communities can and must contribute their fair share toward the solution of this problem. State institutions seek, solicit, beg, and borrow volunteer workers. Like many similar undertakings there are but few loyal and dedicated workers who will respond in a consistent and uniform manner. Demands by other community services offering more pleasant and less arduous roles have diverted a considerable amount of such talent into other channels. Misinformation and “old witches' tales" concerning the subject of retardation has critically impaired recruitment programs. It is my firm conviction that by the establishment of a National Service Corps many of the long-neglected needs of our retarded population can be fulfilled. It is important to stress that not all indivduals in our democracy can achieve intellectual success. When this is not possible, we must discover and develop whatever limited talents they possess. I am confident everyone will admit that we are in serious need of assistance in the procuring of dedicated personnel in State institutions. There are some who advocate that this is strictly a problem of the individual States. One cannot buy dedicated personnel with money. The fact that they are dedicated eliminates the purchase of their services. It has been suggested that every State develop its own National Service Corps. I offer several objections to this. Economically it is unsound to establish 50 separate National Service Corps when one corps could more appropriately serve this purpose. Certainly by developing one center with the total limitation of corpsmen to 5,000 seems logical. When a group of assigned corpsmen have completed a particular project they would be transferred to similar duties in the same or another State. These same groups could be utilized to develop projects in various States based on a priority of need. With such a philosophy in mind, I should like to outline for you a few of the many areas in which I am confident that members of the National Service Corps could vastly improve current programing in State institutions. It is essential to point out that in no instance would any corpsmen be utilized to replace any employees or volunteer groups. Their assignment would be to establish and develop services not currently available. In every area outlined, it is anticipated that volunteer workers will be stimulated to assume the responsibility rightfully theirs and replace such corpsmen who would in turn be assigned to similar projects in other institutions. Upon completion of their tour of duty such corpsmen would prove to be extremely valuable citizens in their local communities in helping organize and establish similar projects. In the event that local volunteer groups fail to respond, I am confident that State legislators would initiate appropriate action to procure regular employees as replacements. This confidence is based upon the outstanding success achieved by similarly proposed programs in many European countries. A. Recreation AREAS IN CRITICAL NEED State institutions for the mentally retarded employ an average of three to five full-time recreational workers to service the needs of 1,000 to 1,500 residents. By way of contrast, citizens in local communities frequently compete for the privilege and honor of coaching little league baseball teams where membership may comprise only 20 players. Corpsmen with athletic backgrounds or interest could be assigned to individual units housing from 50 to 100 residents to plan, develop, and program intramural indoor and outdoor recreational activities. In such a role the corpsmen would be simultaneously offering occupational therapy, improving the physical welfare of the resident, and offering him day-to-day life experiences of a competitive nature. We are confident that when local communities become cognizant of the vast improvement that can follow such activity they will assume the role of corpsmen. B. Arts and crafts Corpsmen with experience and training in the arts and crafts including leatherwork, shoe repairing, basket weaving, machinery, printing, painting, ceramics, and carpentry can instruct such skills to our retarded. Training of this nature would improve the retardate's self-esteem, confidence, and develop feelings of worthiness in addition to offering him a visible means of partial self-support. I remain aware of the magnificent role currently being played by our vocational rehabilitation services. It is important to stress that vocational rehabilitation services demand that specific criteria be met for eligibility and the majority of retardates are thus unable to qualify. It is my conviction that members of the National Service Corps could develop the dormant talents of many of these retardates to such the degree that they can and will meet the Vocational rehabilitation qualifications. An excellent example of this is our recent finding of a severely retarded young man who expressed an interest in painting. This talent fostered by a local volunteer art group resulted in his winning first award in a national art show. If his potential continues along these lines, we feel confident that he may shortly be self-supporting. C. Education (teacher assistance) Corpsmen with an appropriate educational background could assist teachers in State institutions for the mentally retarded, both trainable and educable classroom instruction. This would permit individual tutoring and an opportunity to develop limited talents. Corpsmen could obtain firsthand information in methods of teaching our retarded, which in civilian life would be extremely useful in helping local communities to develop similar programs. 1. Home economics.—Corpsmen with training in home economic courses could teach these skills to our retardates for two purposes; (1) Upon eventual return to community living such individuals might thus be able to care for themselves; and (2) such training could be productive of domestic employment in local communities. D. Maintenance Corpsmen with training in such occupations as plumbing, painting, papering, carpentry, and welding could instruct residents in these trades. This could either prepare such residents for future community job placements or improve their skills to the point that vocational rehabilitation services might be procured. E. Farm areas Corpsmen with experience in landscaping, care of shrubbery, trees, flowers, and lawns could instruct residents in such skills so that they can become either partially or totally self-supporting. Corpsmen, for example, with civilian experience in floral shops or greenhouse operations could train residents in these areas and assist them in procuring placement in local and appropriate communities. Corpsmen with farm experience could instruct residents in such operations as planting, fertilizing, cultivating, and harvesting of farm produce. With appropriate experience in such areas residents might be placed on local farms where there remains a demand for such services. Corpsmen with training in beef or dairy cattle operation could train residents in the day-to-day management of dairy and beef cattle so that they could be placed in local communities for such service. May I point out a very unusual area in which there is a definite shortage of employment. I refer specifically to grooms to care for saddle-bred, standardbred, and thoroughbred horses. The functions of a groom consist primarily of the watering and feeding of horses, as well as cleaning of stalls. Such skills require little intellectual expectations and yet are financially quite rewarding. Corpsmen who had been engaged in horse training, breeding, or the operation of riding academies could teach residents in this type of employment. On this particular subject I speak from personal experience since we currently have residents placed with stables who are now self-supporting citizens and no longer State charges. F. Social service assistance The shortage of social service personnel remains a serious problem in our democracy. The recruitment program lags far behind the demands for such services. Corpsmen with sufficient educational requirements would not only be of great assistance to all State institutions, but by their experience might be stimulated into entering such a professional field as a career. In State institutions for the retarded there are innumerable capacities for individuals possessing such skills. The primary role that I project as to the National Service Corps concerns that of "big brother" or "big sister." Such corpsmen would be assigned to individual residential units, housing from 50 to 100 retardates, to serve as representative and liaison between the residents, the institution, and the family unit. These corpsmen would assist in residents' correspondence, counseling, personal problems, and teaching the management of day-to-day living experiences while stimulating the development of local volunteer services to take over this role. In addition corpsmen would instruct our male residents in such social skills as manners, poise, appropriate clothing, and personal hygiene. G. Motel management services Corpsmen with training in motel management might offer residents services in janitorial and housekeeping skills. Such preparation would allow them to procure employment in local facilities where demands for such trained services are common. H. Teachers of charm and modeling school Female members of the National Service Corps with training and experience in charm and modeling would be assigned to individual residential halls for the purposes of instructing our female residents in personal hygiene, makeup, hairdo, clothing, poise, and manners. This proposal follows the observations made by the vocational rehabilitation services that retardates fail most frequently in community placement because of the lack of social graces and not upon their work performance. I. Religious services Corpsmen with training and experience in religious education could assist chaplains of State institutions in offering small group instruction. Many chaplains of State hospitals are frustrated by their inability to offer adequate and sufficient religious training. J. Administrative services Corpsmen with broad administrative and personal management experience might serve as public relation personnel in State institutions. Such corpsmen would act as liaison between State institutions, local community groups, newspapers, radio, television, and civic organizations to disseminate information concerning the problems and needs of our mentally retarded population and thus awaken local communities to action. K. Play therapy for the severely retarded Corpsmen could be assigned for individual play therapy with our severely bedridden, mentally retarded residents. Our European contemporaries are placing great emphasis on such therapy with the bedridden, severely retarded groups. Their findings indicate that there is indeed a great potential in this heretofore forgotten group. In the past they have been practically abandoned as rehabilitation prospects. Much to our surprise isolated findings across our Nation now point out the vast improvements which have been observed when such retardates are actively stimulated in play sessions. L. Music services Corpsmen with a musical background could work with residents in developing an appreciation of music. In my own experience there is no form of entertainment that has proven of any greater therapeutic value to the retarded than music. SUMMARY As superintendent of a State hospital, for 1,400 mentally retarded, I am confident that the establishment of a National Service Corps would offer the retarded their greatest potential for the fullest development of their limited skills. Many of the long neglected needs of this handicapped group could be fulfilled so that the retarded could achieve his rightful place in our democratic society. I urge your support of a National Service Corps so that State institutions can fulfill the recommendations achieved during the past decade in social, psychological, educational, and medical sciences. Their findings project the great need for such services. It is to be emphasized that corpsmen would not be used to replace employees or volunteer groups but to develop services not currently available. I am confident that local volunteer groups will respond in a truly American and dedicated manner to the example of the corpsmen. I encourage the ideation that when individuals are unable to achieve academic success that we develop, to the fullest, whatever potential they possess so that they may have a much more meaningful and happy life. ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 25, 1963. Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., Chairman, Subcommittee on the National Service Corps, Sorry your letter arrived too late for me to write detailed letter. The Golden Age & Senior Citizens Club of the United States fully support and endorse the passage of the Senate bill (S. 1321) establishing a National Service Corps. ANTHONY SALAMONE, Chairman, Advisory Council, Golden Age & Senior Citizens Club. Statement of MILTON GREENBLATT, M.D., SUPERINTENDENT, BOSTON STATE HOSPITAL, AND PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE My attitude toward the National Service Corps idea is shaped by more than two decades of experience in the mental health field at the research and administrative level, together with 8 years of participation in the student volunteer program in mental hospitals. Briefly, the project that has engaged my interest and participation springs out of the Harvard-Radcliffe student volunteer program that began 8 years ago when undergraduates in the Boston area first undertook to give regular service to patients on the back wards of the Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, Mass., and has since been followed by 60 to 70 similar demonstrations in other colleges and universities throughout the Nation. The initiative, strength, and daring demonstrated by these students, as well as the benefits accruing to patients and to the hospital from their enthusiasm, friendship and interesting innovations in patient care have attracted much attention and acclaim from universities, the newspapers, national magazines, and distinguished professionals. From personal relationships established with patients on the wards, the student volunteers realized that progress toward discharge for many of the patients was hopelessly arrested because of lack of a bridge from hospital to communitya transitional facility. Three years ago, the students originated the idea of a 99-865-63—22 cooperative halfway house with patients and students living together in a familytype arrangement, attended by a house mother and father and supervised by psychiatrists and a board of managers. This project, unique in the annals of medicine, is known as Wellmet, Inc. We have come to appreciate that for mentally ill individuals with no home to go to, or whose home is unsuitable for them, Wellmet possesses therapeutic advantages unequalled by any other known facility. In the warm environment of the home, patients are under almost constant supervision and attention and are offered a rich assortment of therapeutic roles and opportunities in sharpest contrast with the conditions of a custodial ward. The student volunteer program demonstrated that with youthful vigor and creativity and warm feeling for the patient-and plain hard work-these young people have made reasonably comfortable places for living out of cold, desolate, and barren back wards, and they have formed friendships with patients who have been destitute for decades. They have helped patients to adapt in the community who otherwise would have remained static in the custodial situation. They have brought a new spirit of practical social action into the academic community. They have improved their own view of the human condition by direct sharing of the stress and suffering of sick individuals. They have crystallized their ideas about their future occupational career destinies. They have invigorated the whole volunteer movement by demonstrating to senior volunteer associates their interest in the most severely ill and their relative lack of pessimism and defeatism. They have set up the extraordinary halfway house, mentioned above, for further rehabilitation. The utilization of the native spiritual force and altruistic potential latent in the student citizenry have been amply illustrated by this project. There has been no serious threat to the professionals working in the mental hospital system, such as social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. In fact, after an initial brief period of adjustment, they have been delighted to work with the students, as the latter have extended the efficiency of their treatment of patients. The Government-sponsored Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health has thoroughly emphasized the need for us to bring nonprofessionals into the mental health orbit. Volunteering is already a fairly well-established and accepted element in the mental hospital. Some support and legitimation of the volunteer movement by the Federal Government, plus additional leadership afforded by Service Corpsmen, would add a remarkable increment to the strength and effectiveness of the nonprofessional volunteer working in the mental hospital, the institution for the retarded, the community mental health center, and in the community itself. STATEMENT OF JACOB CLAYMAN, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, INDUSTRIAL UNION DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO, ON S. 1321, TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL SERVICE CORPS My name is Jacob Clayman. I am administrative director of the Industrial Union Department (IUD), AFL-CIO. The IUD represents the interests of individual workers within the AFL-CIO and before the public. It is comprised of 59 unions with an industrial worker membership of 6 million. Members of our unions live in and around the great urban centers that make up industrial America. These complexes generally are slum ridden at their cores or suffer significant urban blight. Social services available to the millions who live in disadvantaged America are woefully inadequate. Even in our lower middle-income, white-collar suburbs, there is massive neglect of our youth and of the aged. The current civil rights struggle in this Nation reflects in part the neglect of minority groups condemned to racial ghettos in our big citiees and subjected to second-class opportunity as well as second-class citizenship. Some of our members and their families are included among the disadvantaged. With the exception of a handful of the wealthy able to insulate themselves from the consequences, the entire Nation is adversely affected by today's unsolved social and economic problems. The latest figures on unemployment give added emphasis to the need of our youth for help. One in three of Negro out-of-school youth is jobless. One in six |