Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-19
THE ASSOCIATED
CHARITY WORK

| NxlfAxtx VVASIA
During the course of one day the
work of the Associated Charities In the
field. or, in other words, the visiting
done in behalf OF individual families,
follows very closely certain definite
lines. Each day brings emergencies
that must be given precedent above all
other demands; while there are always
hours and hours of "follow-up' work
in cur effort to learn each cause for
the existing misery, and to determine
! the wisest plan for returning the fam
F.! lily to self support, or as nearly so as
possible. In this effort we emphasize
the necessity OF leaving the RESPONSE
bility for support on the family itself
and maintain that anything which re-
moves responsibility from those to
whom 1t rightfully belongs Is not only
false charity but is S~-i.social to the
point of being a crime against the ram
lily and against the community
BY emergency calls we mean such as
these: The family reported by the phy-
stefan where there was sickness. no
coal and little food. Again, family OF
six small children, the father just re-
turned to work, will not be paid for
three weeks, has credit for food but
not for coal. Has coal>sufficient to last
only over night, while the thermometer
Is registering from twelve to fifteen be-
low zero. Now in such cases our prin-
ciple is to visit the family at once, find
out as nearly az possible what the sit.
uation is, what resources there are
within the family itself or among their
nearby relatives, and to see that the
emergency Is taken care OF. If rela-
tives live near enough and the next
emergency permits the time we visit
them first. II another agency is help
ing the family We telephone them, and
in case that none Of these sO-called nat.
ural resources can provide what Ia
needed at once we telephone to the
nearest source of supply following the
telephone order with an official written
order through the mail.
The emergency woEk Is important
but not entirely satisfactory in so far
as it deals largely with the need OF the
particular day or week. II they do not
come in too large numbers we can gen.
orally get the foundation for the 'fol-
low-up" work during this emergency
visit. The most permanent and con-
structive work comes through subse-
uuent visits. These ven axe on rela.
tives. family physicians, pastors and
priests, employers, fraternal represen-
tatives, and, In very rare instances.
when gathering legal evidence on near
by neighbors.
Relatives understand each family
1ust a bit differently from anyone else.
They know the childhood, what
chances each had or did not have, the
personal habits or traits, and temper
amental qualities. We try to learn
what financial help they are able and
willing to render, as well as to secure
their cooperation with the family itself
| in it's effort to get back to self-support
We visit the physician; not only to SO.
cure the diagnosis OF his patient but to
confer with him In regard to the prob
able length of the sickness, the posi-
bilities for permanent recovery, and
the probable time when the patient
may with safety return to work. His
counsel, too, is invaluable in planning
/ for the general family care, especially
| II he has known them for some time.
We visit the pastor and report to him
or confer with him, regarding condi'
lions in the homes of his Practitioners.
Not infrequently family has moved
many times and drifted away from his
church relationship. In such cases we
notify the nearest pastor Of the church
to which the family belongs. We visit
the employer, or the former employer
in order to ascertain the work record
the average wage, and the possibilities
for Reinstatement in cases of unem.
| ployment. We visit the freternal rep
resentatives to request them to carry
lodge payments for definite period OF
time. in order that benefit may not
lapse: also to verify the amount and
the frequency OF benefits received by
members Of the family. Public records
are consulted to ascertain property
values. question Of titles, and amount
of taxes.
One day recently we visited six fam.
flies two employers, one legal firm,
and two relatives, secured relief from a
church for one family, from a relief
agency for another, employment for
| one bread winner and supplied relief
In two instances.
We should like our citizens to clearly
understand that charity organization
society training impresses a finality OF
responsibility on the society for offer.
ling some possible solution for every
/ social maladjustment. It is not sufi.
Gent for US to decide whether or no
we will give relief and let the family
nroblems drop there but it Is our re.
sponsibility to see that as far as pos
sible all the elements contributing to
the problems shall be overcome. When
we know OF condition that hinders a
family from being self supporting and
self respecting, we are duty bound to
exhaust every resource in the city, the
county, the state-yes, in the whole
wide world, in an effort to bring to that
family the inalienable right of self-sup
port. There is but one question with us
and that Is NEED. To find out the
whole need and meet it to the farthest
possible point. We know no such word
as worthy or unworthy" The more
deanlv a family suffers from traits for