The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-15

vided responsibility, which fails to un- dertake effective measures for the pre- vention of unnecessary commitments or for more active placing out of the children in family, homes,
 ''The Fairfield County home Cat Nor wallz) has continued as badly over crowded as ever, its efghty-odd beds being occupied at times by ninety to of it's wards who are boarded at the St. Francis' Asylum, New Haven, is usually over one hundred.
 State Should Take Work It is the. aim of those connected with the work to save as many of these children as possible from this fate. Statistics show that about S9 per cent. of the children of improper homes, when placed in normal homes and brought up as normal children, turn out to be good citizens which is g. higher percen tage than of those born in good homes.
 Throughout the state there are, a number of societies for the aid Of children, of which the Connecticut Children's Aid society is one of the most prominent. The work which they do is a great one but, as they are supported by private individuals their means and scope are limited. That 1t is not question Of the different towns but rather of the whole state and one which should be taken over by the state was recently explained to me by one of the leading social workers of the city.
 While everything begins with the private aid society," she said, s+the work is such an extremely expensive one that it eventually devo1ves upon the state. The private aid socfety.s duty is to educate public opinion 1lp to the idea, so that the state will readily take it over.''
 |
 Ohio's Solution
 Ohio has apparently solved the ques- ton in an interesting and effective way. A Children's Welfare Bureau has been established under the state board of charities which has it's direc- tor, assistant and investigators. The idea. of this bureau Is to better condi- tions all over the state. The county l homes and placing out agencies are all under it's Supervision. All dependent children are turned over to them, and os far as possible these children are
 placed out in families Fsriendlv yts- itors visit them often, to see that they are properly taken care Of Wherever 1t Is possible people are found who will adopt the child. Feeble minded and the proper care of these in in- istitutionS is watched over In this way the work throughout the state is more thorough and systematic. St. Agnes Home
 Recently there was opened in Hart
 ford. Home which promises to fill a long felt want in this state and to 1 be quite different from any establish l ed institution here. This is the St 1 Agnes Home for children under the
 age of four years which was opened l to the public on November 29, al-
 though it has been receiving children
 since August 15.. It is for the care of l just such helpless little ones a9
 Bridgeport now is trying to provide for, that St. Agnes was founded l The home is ideally constructed
 and equipped for its purpose from
 basement to roof. Everything that could be installed for the comfort and sanitation of it's infants has been pro- vfded. Seven Sisters of Mercy. chosen
 from various fields, for their special Knowledge of the needs of little ones | afe in charge of the different depart