T . = lmperzal HUGH PAGE - Senior Conciliation

Counselor

“Our caseload i s growing so rapidly that I am not sure we can remain a s efficient with only two counselors. Question -‘What do you do with Boards of Supervisors who need a dollars and cents evaluation of the success of a Court of Conciliation before they will grant any more support?’ We continue to do rather well despite the lack of necessary staff. ’.’

Biographical - HUGH PAGE

Native of Colorado. Elementary and high school education in Colorado. Received A.B. Degree at Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma and B.D. Degree at Texas Chris- tian University, #Fort Worth, Texas. Clinical study at Veteran’s Hospital, Fort Lyon, Colorado and at Denver General Hospital. USAF Chaplain for five years. Finished major in psychology at San Diego State College. One and a half years at American Institute of Family Relations. Case work at Boys’ Repub- lic for one year. Three and a half years as Senior Counselor at Court of Conciliation, Imperial County.

C om mun i t y The Imperial County Conciliation Court

operates in the center of a predominantly agri- cultural community of about 70,000 people,

With the proximity to the Mexican border, it is natural that our community be made up of many Mexican-Americans. Most of these are of the lower socio-economic levels, but some have elevated themselves to business and land holding positions. There are also many natives of India, Pakistan, China and other eastern cultures; and a number of Swiss farm- ers. Religiously speaking, we are evenly split - about one-half Protestant and one-half Cath- olic, with some Mohammedans, Sikhs and Buddhists sprinkled throughout. Socio-econom- ically speaking, there seems to be a Iarge group on the lower socio-economic level, with another large group on the upper economic levels with a relatively small middle class,

The average number of divorces filed each year is 258, and the average number of petitions filed each month i s 23.

We feel that we have enjoyed success far exceeding our expectations. Of course) the preponderance of success has been with those who have sought help prior to filing for di- vorcer Divorce filings have steadily decreased over the past four years. Since the inaugura- tion of the Court of Conciliation the “divorcee granted” figure has also decreased commen- sura tely.

We owe a great deal of our recent suc- cess to the addition of Counselor Judith Gallo to our staff, She completed her Master’s in Psychology at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee,

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