The Social Worker in the Development of a Service for Cleft Palate Children

Abstract

In October 1970 we were given the task of a Social Service department in one of the three largest teaching hospitals in Israel, Beilinson Hospital. We were given only very limited staff. Our decision to put a half time social worker on to the Cleft Palate Service was based on our recognition that with an existing cooperative team, this was an excellent place to build a model for the comprehensive care of handicapped children and their parents. This is a handicap which requires help and treatment of the various disciplines from birth. Reports from the literature indicated that the cleft lip and/or cleft palate child presented psycho-social problems from birth directly related to the physical anomaly. From birth, the infant Suffers from frustration because of sucking needs, and develops feeling of anxiety due to frequent hospitalization and surgical procedures. As, the infant grows older, language development may be …