The Developmental Vicissitudes of a Municipal Hospital-Based Child Psychiatry Unit in an Urban Ghetto.

The development of a child psychiatric unit in a municipal, ghetto-located hospital is described. Initial problems and their solutions are discussed. Accepting the fact that the problems of the political scene and gross underfunding were uncontrollable, focus was put on devising a service comparable to those utilized by middle class populations. A team comprised of professionals and unprofessionals was expected to share primary responsibility for a client and his family throughout their entire contact with the service. Varied, multiple and experimental treatment procedures were used. The approaches included: (1) a medication clinic; (2) a learning disability evaluation clinic; (3) activity groups for young latency-age boys and pre-adolescent girls; and (4) behavior modification guidance to families. Conclusions and continuing expansion of programs and experimentations complete the discussion. (TL)