The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-30
Suggestions Considered for
Making State Aid Effective.
KANSAS GIVES $4,000 YEARLY
This Amount Supplies Deficit
of Private Funds.
893 Children Cared for by
Thirteen Societies.


board Of control from thirteen home
finding institutions in Kansas, it Is
probable that some new legislation Tor
the care of children in private institu-
tons will be asked. With reports
showing that 500 children were last
year cared for at the thirteen fnsti-
buttons receiving state aid, 1t is prob
able that the state may in the future
take up the care of these children in
her own institutions.
Under the acl of the state legisla-
ture, the state makes appropriation
each two yenrs for certain private hos
pitfalls and charitable institutions for
the care of charity cases. At present
ceiving aid for the care of neglected,
dependent or homeless children. The
total appropriation for this work
amounts to $4,000 every two years.
At present the direct care of chill
dren by the state is under the jurisdic-
ton of the Atchison Orphans home.
There are about 200 children in that
institution. The record of 893 chill
dren cared for last year in the private
home finding institutions. however,
emphasizes the necessity for greater
state aid il the care Of the unfortunate
youngsters.
| One plan advanced is for the loca-
ton of five home finding societies and
shall be designated by the state and
shall receive state aid, although not
under direct control or management
by the state. Under this plan. the
board of control might designate to
which institution a child should be
sent. In event the designated chart
ties became 0vercrowded. child
might then be taken to some private
home founding society. Thus the
work Of caring for the children would
be centralized and the expense re-
duced to the minimum. The state
would not directly enter into the care
of these children, further than to ex-
tend financial aid and look after the
work through the state board of con-
| troll.
There as no doubt" said one super
intendent in his report to the board of
control, that the normal child may be
reared and trained best in the normal
| family home where he was born. con-
sequently, it must be admitted that for
the normal dependent and neglected
child, the best place to lay the founda-
ton for moral, physical and mental
structure, which is to be such an i'm
portant factor in future development,
is the normal foster family home"
That such homes have been doing ex-
lcellent work is shown by the compiled
reports from the thirteen institutions
now receiving state aid. Their work
may become even more successful, II
is believed. with few changes in the
existing laws.
For the fiscal year ending July l.
the reports show 1893 children cared for
in the Is institutions as against 874
cared for in the year ending July 1.
1913. A total Of 318 were placed in
private families by indenture or adop-
ton, as against a record of 262 the
previous year. Children returned to
friends during the year totaled 211 as
against 1853 the previous year.
That the institutions are not on 9
profit earning basis il shown in the
financial report. This report shows re-
lceipts of $49, S7299 and disbursements OF
5O059.85 for the year ending July L
RECORDS for the previous year show re-
Iceipts Of $4O,21O3O with disbursements
Of $44,427.51. The state aid of $4,000
for two years was divided, $500 fol
the year ending July l. 1914 and 81 .80(
for the year ending July 1. 1913.
Thirteen home-finding institutions
and societies received state aid. period
June 30. 1912, to June 80. 1914. They
were:
Orphans Home Of the Kansas Con.
ference Of the Lutheran Synod, Gle.
burne: Goodlander Home, Fort Scott
St. Vincent's Home. Leavenworth: Ho-
illness Industrial Childrens Home, For,
Scott; Industrial School and Hygiene
Home for Friendless, Hillsboro: Guar.
dian Angels Home. Leavenworth: To.
ipeka Orphans Home Association, To.
Ipeka; Children's Home Association
lola; Children's Home, Kansas City
st. Joseph's Orphanage, Wichita
Wichita Children's Home, Wichita: Or
lphan Children's Home (colored), Kan
sas City; Lutheran Children's Home