1 Riley Hospital Diagnostic and Outpatient Center, and Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
A study was designed to determine the nature of the contributions that a children's clinic can make to child welfare, specifically in relation to adoption. Data were collected on 40 children referred to a pediatric diagnostic clinic and who presented some problem relevant to adoption. In 12 of 40 cases it was judged that previous utilization of professional services by the agency or independent agent had been inadequate. Previous professional advice was judged to have been inadequate in 20% of cases. The data also help define a new role for an outpatient department in relation to (1) diagnostic services, (2) preventive services, (3) professional education, (4) research, and (5) social action.
Submitted on October 22, 1962