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Show f Utah's first residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children years old will open this spring at the Primary 'Child rents Hospital, in Salt Lake City. 4 The third step in a project. flie new facility wHl give die hospital one of Hie most complete children's psychiatric centers in the .Mountain West. Children throughout the world will he eligible for four-phas- e treatment. I , The residential treatment center will provide 244tour a day care five days a week, for children seven to 14 years old Who require intensive treatment lor contin- sous (periods. The children will spend the weekends in (heir con homes. Were ftCH cut-patie- - 'TVe are already serving ahaut 273 cliil- dren a week but ve need to meet more mental health needs, said Dr. Paul L. Whitehead, director of the psychiatric center. , .to have it open an March or April, (reported Dr. Whitehead. The new program will supplement two mental health programs already in existence at the hospital and will act as a stepping stone towards development of a fourth phase. We have an program that serves about 250 children a week. Each child comes in once a week for about an hour and we work with him and his parents,- continued Dr. Whitehead. and hope By W&JUAM SHULL I 1 A young Dr. Paul oy explains "his problenis while Whitehead listens. Children's Services Expanding f I; A student receives specialized instruction from Mrs. Morgaret Adams. Clift, recreational therapist, olds student through "p la thereby JoVvn now recruiting flie staff for Week It He said tliat at child is accepted by the renter unless the parent agrees to receive counseling as well. We see the child for one hour a week and they see him lor tlie rest of it, continued Dr. Whitehead. In a few cases, the parents may be responsible for the child's disturbance so we want to help in this area as well. The second ters program that ending 7anuary part of the psychiatric cen- is a day treatment program aids about 25 children. The program Is 23, 1m operated six hours a day, five days week. a This is divided into special education, recreation and therapy, said the director. We help the children whose problems are severe enough that they cannot attend regular schools. We dont try to completely substitute for a high school or such, hut rather help tlte child to retime to a regular school, he said. Four special education instructors teach up to eight children, who receive specialized training and guidance when required. Nine "foster grandparents, older men and women who have had extensive experience with children, act as supervisee throughout the day. The psychiatric center's staff totals about 40. Our final step will be tc start an inpatient program some time next year, said Dr. Whitehead This would offer care lor six children an a seven-day-a-we- basis. Tlie psychiatric center serves children j wet ween the ages of five and 18 but specializes an the seven-l- f age group and is open to all children, regardless of race, color or religion. Last year, about 150 children were released from the center to return to their normal lives. About 10 per cent will have to return for treatment at a later date, about tlie .national average. Dr. Robert Burgoyne is director of outpatient services and Gerald P. Motz is director of psychology. Donald C. Hunter is administrative director. but Were very proud f our programs here are just making a dart in tlie men- we tal problems of children in the area, Dr. Whitehead. con-tinn- ed National estimate show tliat about 10 per cent of all children have emotional problems and about 10 per cent of that number have severe problems. In Utah alone, this represents about 50,000 children with problems and 5,W0 r so who need immediate help, he said. |