A Man Ahead Of His Time

Thirty years ago many people mindlessly tolerated child abuse, and viewed troubled kids as puzzling aberrations.

But long before mainstream thinking caught up with him, a young Spokane psychologist, Clay Jorgensen, recognized that those socalled “bad kids” often suffered horrific home lives.

He observed that child abuse leaves an open, gaping wound. In damaged children, the pain of being denigrated, assaulted and abandoned never seems to end.

Jorgensen devoted his career to working with these children and their parents as Spokane Mental Health’s child and family services director. He retired this month after 29 years.

Few could tolerate this gritty, heart-wrenching work, but thanks to Jorgensen, countless children and families received the help they needed. Spokane is far richer for Jorgensen’s passionate commitment.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jamie Tobias Neely/For the editorial board