The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-03-19
CITY MISSION WORK
IL Explained In Article by Mrs. Cora
A Peddlcord, Superintendent OF
That Institution.

The work OF the Mission like all
forms of social work, is to help peo-
pie lead normal lives, we can best un-
derstand just what normal life means
by Analysing 1t into its five elements,
health, education, employment, recre-
alton and spiritual development, even
so simple a standard Of normal life Is
not reached by many families, and the
absence of one or more Of these ele-
ments does not necessarily mean de-
pendence, but 1t does mean abnormal
life, of which dependence Is one form.
What Is the First Stepi
A family is referred to the Mis-
sion by a private individual, by a.
church, or by some other organization
or the application is made In person,
a visit to the home is made within
twelve hours sooner If possible and
any emergency distress is relieved at
once from the nearest grocery store
or coal yard. Then follows an in
vestigation.
What Is An Investigation?
1t is not an attempt simply to sep
arate people into worthy and I'M
worthy. 1t finds out the causes be-
hind the immediate situation, investi-
CATION means not only visits to the
home, but visits to relatives, employ
ers, school teachers, ministers,
friends and others who have known
and been interested in the family. In
other words it is necessary to obtain
information regarding family from
number of different people, if the
real truth is to be revealed and the
real way out to be indivated.
What Follows Investigation?
Treatment follows investigation,
first as treatment follows diagnosis in
the case of the physician. We work
with, not merely for the family. A
plan for the rehabilition of family
must be carefully considered from all
points and to be successful must in
clude ways of winning the cooperation
of the family ITSELF and of private
agencies, city departments, or individ-
uals, all working towards the same
ends. There are usually many prob
lens involved. 1t may be necessary to
find employment for one or more In
the family to secure the help of the
truant officer for the wilful boy, tC
ask the aid of the health department
to abate bad sanitary condition, to
call the visiting nurse, 1t will be ne
cessary sometimes to interview the
physician, lawyer, and the insur-
ance agent. We may give clothing
and a certain amount of relief unit
the husband or the wage Garner re-
turns to work. A single family may
present all these problems and otter
many more.
What Is Cooperation
Cooperation is the watch word IL
the business world, and in the Chart
able field.
The best way to deal successfully
with restitution is to have as many
of the individuals, societies ant
churches that are interested in the
charitable work of the community al
lied together. No social worker cal
fulfill their task alone, they must O.
necessity rely for help in state laws
local ordinances and city departments
also be closely allied with the heads
of our industries. A great majOrit!
OF our citizens are under the impress
sion that the City Mission gives {
great deal of material aid to the EN-
ployees of the Cotton Mill. The i'm
preston is wrong. The men and wo
men working in the mill are self-sup
porting. In case of sickness of tn,
wage Garner it is obvious, that ade
lquate relief be given to tide the fam
lily over, only eight families of the
mill have been assisted during thu
past six months and in each case thu
alleged cause was sickness, acciden
and death. The relief and other worl
done by the Mission is pretty wei
distributed all over the city.
The East End, Fourth, Fifth ant
Sixth streets and the West End al
visited and looked after to the yer.
best of the workers ability.
Unemployment is fortunately van
ishing problem at the present time
The industrial situation is, you nigh
say normal, there is work and plent,
Of it for both men and women il
Maysville and at no time during tn
past year has relief been given on &C
count of unemployment. Second
hand clothing is given to all whel
the income is insufficient to buy same
To abolish poverty we must attacl
disease, ignorance, vice, unjust socia
and housing conditions. Health, edu
cation, employment recreation an
spiritual development.