A psychiatric Clinic in a Private Child Care Institution: A Study of the Psychiatric Services at St. Joseph’s Home, Peekskill as Seen in Two Typical Cases From 1959-1960

“Professional and non-professional people in the field of child welfare are becoming more increasingly aware of the emotional disturbances of children placed in Institutions. These were the opening statements of a dissertation written in 1958. Today we are not only aware of the above-mentioned disturbances but most institutions are closely working together with mental hygiene clinics or have a psychiatric clinic included in the program of the institution. The purpose of this, of course, is to stop further deterioration and to start the rehabilitative and preventive work with the child and his family. The psychiatric services have become an essential part of the services rendered to the children with an emotional problem. Domestic relations courts are daily dealing with neglect petitions, where children of inadequate or delinquent parents are found under such unhealthy conditions and under such poor supervision as to endanger their lives and retard their development. When the parents are found responsible, the children separated from them are very often referred for long-term care. St. Joseph\u27s Home of Peekskill is an institution which provides such long-term care for Catholic children