Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-11
WOULD extend WORK
OF CITY CHARITIES
Pressure of Demands Too
Great for Present Corps
of Workers
CHILDREN'S BUREAU
UNDER CONSIDERATION


ciated Charities met Yesterday after
noon at the Social Service Building. No.
6O2 West street, when reports OF the
several departments OF the organization
were heard, and plans Tor the winter
months considered. Plans were outlined
for the further. strengthening and eX-
pansion of the work to meet the in
creasing demands being made daily on
this organization.
1t was pointed out that on account of
Wilmington geographical location, and
the fact that it. is doomed city, a
great demand is made on the Associated
Charities by other similar organiza-
tions regarding relatives. deserving hus-
bands, runaway children, verifcation OF
marriages, etc. The requests made are
numerous and varied and may be any
thing from interviewing a deserving hus-
band to obtaining money from a mans
pay check after he has left the employ
OF the company. In many Instances
from one 10 one-half dozen visits are re-
quired by the social visitor before a
definite solution to the problem is OBJ
tanned. This service is reciprocal as tine
success OF the solution Of many local
family problems is due to the servite
rendered by some similar outside
agency. A study Of the 90 families
dealt with by the Associated Charities
during August revealed that similar
service was. rendered the local Asso-
ciated Charities by % similar organiza-
tions elsewhere
The further extension of the conf
dental exchange now being con-
Quoted by the charities was dis
cussed The confidential exchange is a
clearing house of social information.
II is the chief means of protection to
families who have fallen below the
line of maintenance, and of prevent
ing them from being demoralized by a
half dozen agencies working indepen-
IDENTIFY. each. perhaps, with a differ
ent plan for the same family, one
plan conflicting with the other. RecOg-
nizing this very important need. and
in order TO facilitate this city commu-
nication between agencies and econ
omy and efficiency of work, Mrs. Ella
p Nesbitt. formerly employed by the
Associated Charities as Office secre-
tary. will be made the registrar and it
will be her responsibility to work
daily with the various agencies with
the idea of learning If other persons,
or agencies are interested in the same
families in order that duplication may
be avoided. information shared and
harmonious cooperation secured.
A request for the establishment Of
a children's bureau has come to the
charities from a number of those con-
cerned in child welfare of the city. II
has been suggested that the charities
is the logical agency to establish such
bureau The Rev. Charles l.. Can
dee was appointed chairman of a com
mittee to take up this matter with
I agencies interested.
A superficial study has been made
of the Polish problem in this city.
II is estimated that there are 5000
families or $4,000 Poles in this city,
An increasing number OF Polish fam
lilies are being referred TO this or
ganization for constructive social
service, and the question OF deter
mining the best means Of service
for this portion of the population is
to be considered. II may later on
be necessary, as in Baltimore and
other cities, which have an extern
sive Polish problem to train a Pol
ish worker for this purpose, as il
has been the experience of other
communities that the best result can
only be accomplished in this way.
Another question, which was
brought to the attention of the board
for consideration. was what should
be the attitude of the charities to-
ward the handling OF the homeless
man situation A committee was APP
pointed. Archibald NJ. Main being
made chairman, to look into the
question and report at the next meet
ing OF the board.
A change of name for the Asso-
ciated Charities was also discussed,
as this subject is one that is being
considered by a large number of
similar local organizations as well
as the national association. 1t is
conservatively estimated that 20 per
cent OF the families treated by the
association call for no material as
sistance, but trained personal ser
vice. The workers of the Charities
have a large part TO play in every
movement that strikes the com
munity, whose object is the better
ment OF social conditions. The work
charity" because of a wrong inter
probation is losing caste, and en-
phasis Is today being placed on SER
vice and Justice. A change of name
should be a short cut TO securing
community support and avoiding the
handicap and annoyance that come
of unwise criticism and unwhOle-
some sentiment. The capacity for
broader service would no doubt be en-
larged and a better community under
standing secured.
After four months observation OF
the work. Miss Hilda X. Mills. the
recently appointed general secretary
/ is convinced that the present staff of
the organization is entirely made
/ auate to carry out the proposed pro
/ gram and TO meet the needs of this
/ community. Desiring to know how
the staff of this organization COM
: pares with cities Of a similar size. a
auestiOnairre was arranged, and sent
to a number of cities of comparative
size. requesting that they give the
number in their employ OF fifteen
cities studied the result showed that
cities Of this size employ a general
secretary. an assistant secretary
from three. to five field workers. from
one to three stenographers and one
third employ a registrar as against
a general secretary two field workers
and one stenographer employed by
the Associated Charities. The board
therefore. authorized the employine
of an additional field worker and
stenographer to make possible the
! work Of the organization