Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-17

stand first on this list; teachers,
clergymen. and employers come next,
and often the best helper will be found
to be some householder and friend, or
some relative who is already interest
ed and capable of becoming still more
so. They will know the resources of
the family-not only their financial
resources, but their capacities and
limitations-better than any stranger.
It. is upon the sympathetic under
standing of the family, supplied large
ly by these advisers, that the Home
Service Section should build plans for
the welfare of the household.
The Famiiy's Point of View
1t should be remembered that, aside
from the question of deciding whether
or not family is entitled to Home
Service from the Red Cross, the pur-
pose of any inquiry is to learn what
opportunities for normal growth the
ia mily needs, and what must be done
in order that tho returning soldier or
sailor may find that his household has
advanced, or at least, has not lost
ground in health. in education. in en-
ployment. and ideals of self-help and
self-reliance. Therefore, it becomes
essential that the family should be en-
couraged to tell its own story in its
own way. It's plans for the future,
the handicaps under which 1t feels it.
self to be. its circumstances and what
1t thinks about them, are the initial
things for the Home Service Section
to consider Indeed. the first long talk
that is had with the family is perhaps
the most important time in the Red
Cross workers association with the
family. Often this may moro suitably
take place in visit to the home,
hich would follow promptly the first
application to the Red Cross, whether
this is made by the family through
some one Of it's members, or on behalf
of the family by some one else In
whatever place this interview is held,
its privacy should be complete. The
sensitiveness and proper pride of the
wife. or of the mother, father, or other
relatives of the man in the service.
should be safeguarded
Things to Bear in Mind
Particular attention should be paid
70 the health of the woman and chill
dren. DO the children appear to be in
good condition? Does the mother ?
What children have died or are awav?
What doctors or medical agencies
have cared for those now living. and
what later on, have these physicians
I to report? Is the home healthful? Are
sleeping quarters good? Are the toilet
arrangements good? The rooms dry?
Inc water supply sufficient: Are
there any dark rooms?
What of the education of mother
and children? The schools Of the
children and their records at schoo,
are important.
Who are in the family nowo Arc
lnere any boarders or lodeerso What
relation do they bear to the nrob,on,
asloe from the income that they bring
in:
On the financial side, what savings
are there or have there been, what in.
surance is there, what debts? What
weekly expenditures for food, rent in .
surance, etc? Who are earning. and
what amounts? What was the on
lsted mans last place of EMPLOYMENT
helofe he entered the serviceo Who
should be consulted there? What
were the mans earnings and what was
me snare given to his familvp Has
his employer arranged for a confirm
ahce or salary or made any confirm
tions to the family since the mans an .
pstment? Is anyone working ILLEGAL.
~: is anyone working beyond his nv
nef strength: What are the other de-
'aiis OF the present income and outeo
Vi the famliy? Is the family in i'm
mediate need?
These are not questions +o he os,.,
serially. They are merely indios roy.
of the things that the Home San,,,ns
SEXTON VIII usually need to know in
oiusr 10 safeguard the interests of the
l"nhiiS ana TO give it the thorough IN
Guires. re-
List Of Don'ts
IS as important to remember .ba
,iihss that ought not to be done &C to
heep IN mind the things that should he
on a number of 'don'ts follow,
Don overWhelm people with ones.
IONS before they have had a chance n
cay "hat they want to saw.
Don suggest to them the answers
tiiat 'hey should make, This is often
GONE unconsciousy.
Don't forget that their own ho.
ana plans are more important than
any single fact that the Home Ser,,oa
WI Aei wants In order to make her re-
port or her record complete
beht encourage the children n ION,
e'out Things that concern their e,dana.
apou. 'he family difficulties. inconoa
Dent let the children come ~ W.
emce with messages and reousst. ne
eept when there is a real emersena,,
ana no older person can nossih,',
come posslpiy
Don't discuss the affairs of fs,,;,,,.
aoht tell the facts that come to va,r
s..ention in the course of Hame
service work to any outsider.
Don't give confidential inform..;a
ABOUT the family when making i'm
quiries. NAMING IN
Doh make inquiries of the nressrt
ieiehpofs or do anything that win exN
pose the family to gossip. Protect
.hem as you would your own fan,il,,
from anything that would hurt their
self-respeet '"e''
DON'T venture to make permanent
plans on a first visit.
Dont fail to discover whether there
IL immediate and urgent need of relief
ana 10 make some temporary provision
Tor supplying it before waiting to