Good Faith Attempt to Look For Work: The Utter Worthlessness of the D.C. Dept. of Mental Health

Government of the District of Columbia
Department of Employment Services
Office of the General Counsel

November 17, 2004

Re: Job Search Assistance

Dear Mr. Freedman

This will respond to your recent letter requesting this Department's assistance in seeking employment.

Your letter discusses a number of personal health issues and indicates that you are treating with a Dr. Bash at one of the District's clinics. As this Department lacks sufficient expertise to properly evaluate the medical history and health issues set forth in your letter, it is necesary to have your physician or other treating clinician evaluate your work readiness and work capacity given the health issues disclosed.

Accordingly, you should contact your physician or clinician and have that individual provide a written evaluation of the health issues you disclosed as those issues bear on your ability and readiness to work. Once that evaluation is made, please submit a copy of it to my office at 609 H Street, NE, 5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002. The Department will review the evaluation and you will be contacted shortly after its receipt to set up an appointment with an employment counselor.

If you have any questions concerning this response, please contact my office on (202) 698-5146.

Sincerely,

Daryl Hardy
Administrative Officer
Workforce Development Bureau
Department of Employment Services

At the time of this letter I was in weekly psychotherapy with Israella Y. Bash, Ph.D. of the D.C. Department of Mental Health (Spring Road Clinic). I requested that Dr. Bash prepare a written evaluation of me as directed by the D.C. Department of Employment Services. Dr. Bash insistently and repeatedly refused to provide a written evaluation. She said I was just playing games. What more could I do?