Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-14
Editor Courier,
81

Dear Sir:
I have been requested to make a
statement in the Ottumwa papers con-
corning our work done in the Ameri-
can Home Finding association, locat-
ed in this city Being an incorporated
association and having permission
and approval of the board of control
of state institutions (our accounts
and records being examined three
times each year by said board), we
are also possessed Of a permit OF the
secretary Of state, bearing the seal or
the state. giving notice that we as an
association have the right to do busl-
ness in every town and county IN the
state:
We have the following showing to
make of work done:
Our building, which was purchased
eight years ago, has been doubled IN
size. modernized and specially fitted
for the business and upon which there
is no debt. We have continued the
business since its organization, three
hundred and sixty-five days each year
for over sixteen years.
We have received children of differ
ent nationalities and without regard
to politics, religion or color OF the
parents, which children are placed as
far as is practical with families of the
same religion as their parents.
We have two thousand children
settled in family homes. These chill
dren are provided for until they are
Of legal age, which means that they
are carried through their troublesome
years without change of home.
wish to emphasize that young
children placed in Gods own plan to
be brought up in families do not go
wandering and seeking new homes
while passing through the uncertain
and unsteady years of their teens.
We would rather turn 5-year-old
child out without guidance than
child of Is years, as they cannot get
into the graces of others at that age
who mean their moral and financial
welfare.
When placing child with family
we are dependent for our 1nforma-
ton upon our field agents and upon
responsible neighbors to certify as
to their fitness. Children are placed
upon three months approval for both
child and family before final settle
ment.
twenty-five per cent of our children
are changed from one to five times,
which makes many placements, and
each placement is equally expensive,
leaving rs per cent of the children to
be settled in their first placement.
The cost per child Is $68 on an av-
~, n
over them until they are of legal age,
taking them back or changing them
where necessity and opportunity re-
quires. The children thus served are
much like all children in our towns
and cities, of various grades.
The average time of child's stay
in the home is four months; some OF
unfavorable ages or for lack of train
ing remain longer. At this time there
is no child in the home who has been
with us continually for one year.
We support a we'll equipped school
in our own building with competent
teacher in charge and at our own
expense. Our children are counted in
the city school census but we get no
benefit from the school fund.
We board children, care for their
clothing and keep them in school for
$3.50 per week; SO per week where
we furnish the clothing.
We publish the Iowa Orphans APP.
peal, 1850 copies each issue, which
goes to every town and county in the
state, $50 subscribers in this city.
All of the supplies for the business
are printed in Ottumwa and furnished
to our agents throughout the state.
The management Of this institution
has never changed and has never as
sumed that they belonged to a class
who could not make mistakes. With
the exception Of two who live else
where, our managers are all residents
and taxpayers In Wapello county
have been asked, what have you
done for Wapello county?
We have taken from the ranks OF
the homeless and dependent, children.
girl mothers and widows from all
points in the county, up to last Aug
ust Cat which time we made writ
ten report to the board of supervis.
ors Of this county, 152 individuals,
and since that time we have cared for
eight more, making total of 160 to
date. These have been removed from
the county with a very few exceptions
and have been placed in other coun-
ties in the state of Iowa. Had these
100 persons been sent to the state