The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-13
Child Saving Work in Indiana and Other
States.

The problem of the care of de
pendent and neglected children il
one that has had earnest considera
tion in all our more progressive
States. Various methods have beer
tried. Some have been successful
Others not to. In New York thu
plan was tried of boarding thes,
children in private institutions
Eventually the influence of these in
stitutlons became SO great that i
could not be changed. Ohio adopt
ed the method of establishing CouL
,lty Orphans Homes in which the
dependent and neglected children O.
the county could be gathered and
reared. Indiana started out to pur,
sue the same course. Eventually
its evils were seen and another plan
was tried. Michigan accepted the
theory that these little ones were
the wards of the State. They bull,
one institution which was called the
State Public School, to which all
such children are regularly commit
ted by the count. The capacity OF
the school is about $50. Every
child is put into home as soon as
it is fitted for it. La 1895 an effort
was made to adopt the Michigan
plan in Indiana 1t failed. In
1897 our present pan was adopted.
1t was the Michigan idea adapted
to our conditions. The theory is
the same. "The best place for a
child 10 grow up is in good fam
lily home We have number OF
orphans homes instead of one re-
ceiving hone. Our children are
not committed by the courts, al
though the law makes them the
States wards and objects of its care
full oversight.
The results of the three systems
are quite striking.
New York now supports in or
phans' homes over 1000 children.
Ohio takes care of 1000, exclud-
ing those in the Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home.
Indiana is caring for ! $50, not
counting the Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home.
Michigan maintains less than 200
children in the State Public School.
When we realize that it costs, in
round numbers, 800 year in In
diana to support these children, and
it is probably not far different else
where, the economic feature Of
child saving is obvious.
New York spends millions of dol
lars annually on this account. Ohio
over a quarter of a million; Indiana
more than one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. and Michigan but
a few thousand dollars. That is
least important. Good family
homes, proper home training, good
citizens far outweigh that. The
mere active We are in properly rlac-
ing these children in good family
homes, the greater the lessening of
expense. The greater the good for
the children.
The law of 1897 makes the State
The guardian Of all dependent chill
1ren. The duty Of supervising
lhese juvenile wards was given to-
he State Board Of Charities. IL
vas required to employ agents who
should visit all children placed in
amily homes after April /, 1895,
md find homes for other children.
The services Of such agents were tc !
De appointed among the several
counties equitable. For the first
wo years one agent was employed.
The next two years two agents.
Recently third, woman, was ap-
In addition to organizing the
york, which required much time
he first year, the State Agency has
rom April 1, 1897, TO July 1, 1901,
listed 2,2S9 children in families.
I has placed directly in familys
omes 7SS children, of whom 593l Z
emained therein on the last date /,
mentioned. In addition, the va /,
ious orphans homes have been !
limulated to increased efforts in. I
nding homes. Last year S26 chill |,
rem were visited and 221 children|oe J
'ere placed with families. OF these J
55 remained off public support. D
he appropriations for the first two
ears for this work were So 900 an
ually. For the next two years
4 800 annually. For the next two
ears it will be $4,000 annually
hus, at an annual cost Of $4 500 !
,ere are beinp kent off public ex