Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-15
CONCERNING HOME AID
 FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Board of Child Welfare May Grant Allowances to Widowed Mothers

l An act concerning home aid for de-
 pendent children, enacted by the g-n
 eraI assembly, is as follows:
 1 Section 1. There shall be in each
 county board Of child welfare winch
 may grant allowances to widowed
 mothers with two or more children | under the age of sixteen years. Such l board shall consist of nine m mbers i who shall be nominated by the state 1 board of charities. At least three
 members of the board shall be wom- en, and confirmed by the county com missioners for such terms that the 1 terms of three members of the board shall expire each year thereaft-r. Up
 on the expiration of the term of office 1 of a member of the board, his sue
 cessor shall be appointed, as herein years.
 Sec. ?. The members of the board of child welfare shall receive no com pensation for their services, but shall be entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the dis charge of official duties.
 Sec. 3. The members of the board of child welfare shall meet and CT pointment and ike the dates for it's meetings which shall be held at lea st
 monthly; elect a chairman and secre-
 tary; establish an office and employ
 for the discharge of it's duties. at least
 one of whom shall have had special
 training for the work of family re-
 mobilization and relief.
 Sec. 1. Before aiding any widow
 under this act, the board shall deter mine, by careful inquiry, that the
 widow is a proper person, mentally, morally and physically, to care for and
 bring up her children, and that the other members of the household and the surroundings of the home are such as make for good character, and that aid from this source Is necessary to enable her to bring up her children properly. The inquiry shall include the resources of the family and kthe ability of it's other members, if any, to work or otherwise contribute to it's support, the existence of relatives able to assist the family, and of i'm dfviduals, societies or agencies who may be interested therein. The board shall take all lawful means to secure the support of such persons as are le- gally bound to support the widow or to enforce any other legal rights for her benefit: shall advise and assist members of the family who are able to work to secure work and shall sa- cure such aid for the widow and chil- dren as may be procured from rela- tiveS, organizations or individuals. The investigation shall include consulta- ton with the local public relief officer of the town or city in which the widow resides. Nothing therein contained shall be construed to prevent the eX- lStlng local pubic relief officials from giving prompt and suitable temporary aid, pending the investigation and the granting of an allowance under the provisions of this act.
 Sec. 5. No widow shall be eneible for an allowance under the provisions of this act, unless such widow has been a resident of the county wherein application is made for a period Of one year next preceding the applica- ton and unless her deceased husband was a resident of this state at the time of his death Every allowance under the provisions of this act shall be made, bv a majority vote of the | board of child welfare. and shall be entered upon the minutes of any regu- i lar or special meeting, and upon the official record of the individual case and may be increas ased, diminished or withdrawn in the discretion of said board
 Sec. 6. The board of, child welfare, through it's agents, shall visit at least l once in every three months at their |