The Israel government has approved a new three-point master plan to help families who have been waiting for many years to place their mentally handicapped children in homes for retardates. The plan, embracing both placements in institutions and community services, was disclosed today by Dr. Moshe A, Kurtz, director general of the Ministry of Social Welfare in Israel, in addressing a meeting of the national executive board of Bnai Zion, the American Fraternal Zionist Organization. Harold Bernstein, president of Bnai Zion presided.
The Bnai Zion Foundation, headed by Dr. Harris J. Levine, maintains a modern institution for retarded children in Rosh Ha’ayin which houses 432 children. Dr. Kurtz, who recently arrived in this country on a two-month study mission at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, announced that the main point of the master plan which will be carried out by his Ministry is the dispersal of newly built homes for retardates throughout the country so that no retarded child would be located farther than a radius of 30 miles of his or her family. At present the principal homes for retarded children are concentrated in the center of the country. They house more than 4000 inmates ranging in ages from 4-50.
Dr. Kurtz lauded the work of the Bnai Zion foundation in sponsoring, financing major projects for retarded children in Israel.
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