JDC to Establish Mental Health Policy, Planning Institute in Israel

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), working in cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Health, will establish the Falk Mental Health Policy and Planning Institute in Israel, it was announced here by Donald Robinson, president of the JDC, and Philip Hallen, president of the Maurice Falk Medical Fund of Pittsburgh, Pa. The establishment of the Institute has been made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Maurice Falk Medical Fund.

In making the announcement, Robinson paid tribute to Leon Falk, Jr., Pittsburgh corporation executive and philanthropist, who is the chairman of the board of the Maurice Falk Medical Fund. Robinson called the establishment of the Institute “a meaningful contribution to the advancement of mental health services in Israel. There is a need,” he added, “for long-range planning in this field in order to achieve the most beneficial services commensurate with the country’s resources.”

Ralph Goldman, JDC executive vice president, described the project as “a logical extension of the work ‘joint’ has been doing in Israel through the Trust Fund for the Development of Mental Health Services which,” he noted, “is also a JDC program in cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Health.”

Goldman observed that the Trust Fund for Mental Health in Israel has concentrated “on the development of multi purpose community-based mental health programs to reduce over-reliance on hospital bed services.”

He pointed to recent “radical changes in mental health services in the Western world, some of which have not yet had their full impact on Israel. The Institute will be of particular value in the planning of community services and manpower requirements and,” he added, “the establishment of program goals and vital hospital designs will be done on the basis of both present and potential needs.”