A Home

An IQ report. Another psychological test. Another permanent commitment.  

Transcript

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May 17th, 1956, through June 14, 1956.

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During this time, Worker has had the twin scene by Dr. Name Redacted, psychologist. See Dr. Name Redacted's report on IQ, etc.

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Dr.

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Name Redacted recommended that these twins be placed for adoption and stated that he felt that if there was a very active and interested father in the home that could give David a lot of extra attention, that he would be helped. He thought that David was definitely more immature than Olivia, and he did have a lower IQ. Olivia was in the average range, mentally, but David fell into the dull, normal group at this time. Worker called Mrs. Name Redacted at Legal Aid and told her of our problem of having to move the children soon into another foster home unless we had the permanent commitment. She obliged by going to Pendleton to interview Mrs. Bowman almost immediately. She was to represent her at the hearing as her legal guardian in the matter of the twins. A court hearing was then held on June 11th. At that time, the twins were committed permanently to this agency in view of adoption. Mrs. Name Redacted told the judge that Mrs. Bowman had been quite cooperative and said that she felt that adoption would be best for the children. There didn't seem to be any resistance from her on this score, according to Mrs. Name Redacted. The twins will be baptized in the next couple of weeks at Providence Nursery. Mrs. Name Redacted has been cooperative in keeping the children for another month so that they wouldn't have to be moved twice. The adoption department has adoptive parents in mind for the twins. Worker has noticed that the twins demand a considerable amount of attention, while with worker and that they do not mind very well. At the hearing and at the doctor's office, they were quite rowdy and were quite unmanageable. Worker believes that this is an attention-getting mechanism and that after they are more secure will probably not be this way. June 9th, 56. Catholic Services for Children. Re Olivia M. Bowman. Birth date. Test date. Attention, Miss Hartley. The above-named four-year-old child was seen for psychological testing at your request to determine whether or not she is progressing well enough to be considered for an adoptive placement. This child was seen on two occasions and related to the examiner in an outgoing manner. She seemed to have a normal amount of social confidence and responded well to the test situation. It was noted, however, that she was inclined to be easily distracted. She was given the revised Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale with the following results. Chronological age, four years five months, mental age, four years two months, IQ, 96. The test range was from three to six years. She had difficulty with tests involving comprehension, memory, and a little difficulty with one of the reasoning tests on the four and a half year level. She was able to complete the test on the six-year level, involving recognition of likenesses and differences in pictures. It would seem from the information obtained from the worker and the results of the test that Olivia is developing in quite a normal manner, and there is nothing unusual about her test performance, and that most of her abilities fall on her age level. It is the examiner's opinion that she should have the advantages of an adoptive placement. Sincerely yours, Lewis C. Martin, PhD, clinical psychologist.

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June 12, 1956. Order of permanent commitment. In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon in and for the County of Multnomah, Juvenile Department. In the matter of Mary Olivia Bowman, the above-entitled cause coming on for hearing this 12th day of June, 1956, upon the duly verified petition of James Barron Fitzpatrick, a reputable citizen and resident of this county and state, praying that inquiry be made into the alleged dependency of Mary Olivia Bowman. And it appearing to the court that all persons interested herein, to wit, Gabrielle Bowman, mother, Eastern Oregon State Hospital, have had due notice of said hearing as provided by law. 1. That a citation or notice was duly issued notifying said persons of the time, place, and purpose of this proceeding. And was regularly and personally served upon her on the 26th day of May 1956 in the county of Umatilla, state of Oregon, and more than 24 hours before this hearing. 2. That said persons have duly made and executed a waiver of service upon them of any citation or notice of these proceedings, and have duly consented and agreed that an order of dependency may be entered herein, and that the court may make a temporary and or permanent order of commitment of said child. And the said child Mary Olivia Bowman appearing in person, and blank appearing personally on behalf of said child, and the court, having heard all the evidence adduced and being fully advised in the premises, finds as follows. That the said Mary Olivia Bowman, alleged dependent minor, born on December 17, 1951, is dependent child in this, that she, the said Mary Olivia Bowman, is dependent on the public for support. That Jacob Bowman, the father of said child, surrendered her to Catholic services for children on March 20, 1956, with view of adoption and is a resident of the county of San Francisco, state of California. That Gabrielle Bowman, the mother of said child, is a patient at Eastern Oregon State Hospital and has caused her to become dependent on the public for support and is a resident of the county of Umatilla, State of Oregon. That from a regard for the future welfare of the said child, it is requisite that she be permanently committed to the Catholic Services for Children Institution at 519 Southwest 3rd Avenue, Portland, a child-caring institution incorporated under the laws of the state of Oregon. Wherefore it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that said child, Mary Olivia Bowman is, quote unquote, dependent, and that she be and she is hereby duly and permanently committed. And surrendered to the said Catholic services for children, with the understanding that if the said child should be found in a reasonable time, to be mentally or physically defective or afflicted with tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, or requiring extended medical or surgical treatment, or difficult to place because of behavior problems, then said child may be returned to this court upon making proper showing. That said corporation, to wit, Catholic Services for Children, shall have the authority to place the said child in a family home, with or without indenture, and be made a party to any proceeding for the legal adoption of the said child. And may by its attorney or agent appear in any court where such proceedings are pending and assent to such adoption and such assent shall be sufficient to authorize the court to enter a proper order or decree of adoption. And it is further ordered that Helen M. Ellis be charged with the execution of this order, dated this twelfth day of June 1956. Carlay Dahl, Judge, State of Oregon, County of Multnomah. I, Josephine H. Hawksley, Clerk of the Above Entitled Court, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in the above court, dated at Portland, Oregon this 22nd day of June, 1956. Josephine H. Hawksley, Clerk of the Court.

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June 14th to July 8, 1956. During this time, the twins were seen by Dr. Naymerdacted, who reported that he was concerned about David's development, but that outside of this, they were in good health, except for David's tonsils being a little enlarged. The children were baptized at Providence Nursery as planned. Worker took them for a visit with prospective adoptive parents after a little interpretation from worker and foster mother, they were told that they would be having a new home to visit in and new parents. The children did not understand what this would mean, but did accept the idea. After the first visit with the adoptive parents, we told them that they would be their new mama and daddy, and they were quite agreeable, as they liked the people. On the second visit, they were to go home with the people, and so worker talked with the twins in terms of their new mama and daddy taking them home with them for a visit and asked them if they would like this. They said yes, but wondered if they were going to come back, quote, unquote, home. We ignored this and just said they would visit for a while. The children readily went with the new parents on July 8, 56, when this case is transferred to adoption department. June 20th, 56. In an adoption meeting, the Fisher home was approved for placement of the twins. I contacted Mrs. Fisher by phone and gave her some background information and made an office appointment for July 7th. July 7th, 56. I gave the Fishers detailed background information on these youngsters. See below information. Background information. Born December 17th, 51. Placed in Providence, December 24, 51. Foster home, September 15, 53. Providence Nursery, January 15, 54. Foster home to present date. Mother, 30-year-old R. C. worked as a waitress and did housework. Diagnosed schizophrenic reaction type 1951, committed to state hospital, 1953. Doctor stated they have almost completely put aside the heredity factor in schizophrenia, feeling the environment is the influencing element in these situations. January 1953. Mary walked at one year, David still making attempts. Both children evidence good appetites and sleep well. Youngsters play actively and are interested in toys. Pleasant children. June 1953. Both children walk and talk well. Olivia more advanced than David. Both children upset at time of moves from Providence Nursery. Settled quite quickly in new home, David's toilet training. David appears more sensitive and temperamental, has temper tantrums occasionally. Still some bickering between the two usually can be handled by separating them. Demand a great deal of attention from worker or any adult. Maternal uncle is a factory worker, married with four children. Father, believed to be serving in armed forces. Olivia ate solid foods at six weeks, drank from cup at seven and a half months, first tooth at ten months, creeping at seven months. Sat alone seven and a half months, pulled self-erect at eight months, said words at fourteen months, walked at eleven and a half months, fed self at fourteen and a half months. Chickenpox, January 11th, 53. David, ate solid foods at eight weeks, first tooth at nine months, sat alone at ten months, pulled self-erect at ten months, first words at sixteen months, walking well at eleven months, sixteen months feeding self-well. Chickenpox 123 53. David is less mature and is developing more slowly than his sister. The father should assume a very active role in relation to the boy and give him a good deal of time and attention and thus further his development, seem to lack self and social confidence. Olivia is outgoing and seems to have a normal amount of social confidence, tested normal. The Fishers had been informed that there was mental illness in the background of these youngsters, and evidently they had given some thought to this. They raised questions around the hereditary factor involved, and I suggested that they could, if they wished, seek some reading material on this and the advice of a physician or a psychiatrist, whatever they might choose to do. I gave them the pamphlet on hereditary counseling, which has a brief bit of material in it about schizophrenic and mental illness as hereditary factors, and I also told them what this psychiatrist at the state hospital, where the mother is at present, had told us in regard to her prognosis and the possibility of the children's developing this illness. Mrs. Fisher seemed to have little concern about it. Mr. Fisher seemed to be more questioning, and I felt that they should have some time to think this over before they saw the youngsters. I therefore arranged that I would meet them after lunch, and they would have this period of time to talk it over and to reach a decision. When they returned from lunch, Mr. Fisher told me that he had talked with his wife at great length, and he evidently has great faith in her nursing background and feels that he will not be concerned about this either. They were quite eager to see the children, and since the worker had made previous arrangements that we would meet the children and their foster worker at Laurelhurst Park, we proceeded to this point. The children were not afraid of the fishers and rather cautiously visited with them at first, but as they became more active in their play, they wholeheartedly identified with this couple. Mary seemed to go more to Mrs. Fisher while David went to Mr. Fisher. They had quite an active hour or so, playing on the rings and swings, and the children seemed quite pleased, as did the fishers about the youngsters. We arranged that there should be another meeting between the adopting parents and the children on the following day, and before we parted, both the foster worker and myself talked to the children about going to stay with the fishers for overnight, and possibly, if they liked it, staying there for good. There was a great deal of concentration on the fact that the next day they would bring their pajamas and clothes as they would be going with the fishers, and the children seemed quite accepting of this. Prior to this placement, Miss Name Redacted, the foster homeworker, had given a great deal of interpretation to Mrs. Name Redacted, the foster mother. And she in turn had interpreted to the children that they would be having a new mommy and daddy, and they seemed to understand that this man and woman were their new mommy and daddy. The following day, the adoption worker was not present, but evidently the placement went satisfactorily. The children were willing and eager to go home with Mr.

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and Mrs. Fisher. Mary Olivia and David are four and a half years old when the Fishers become their parents.