The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-01-26
Social Service Work.

In last weeks issue of this paper
there was an account of the formation
of the Prince Georges County Social
Service Association. In that story,
we promised this week to tell more
about the work of the Association and
in order that our readers may know
something as to what is actually being
done, we tell the following story which
is descriptive of an actual case handled
by the secretary, Miss Lillian Hood of
the new organization: MRS. J, an old
lady of 76years had been helped by the
people of the town in which she lived
for years. and was also receiving a
county pension. She had become
chronic beggar and was becoming more
and more of nuisance but no one knew
just what could be done to relieve the
situation, as 80 far as they knew she
was alone in the world. Finally the
social worker was asked to take up the
matter and if possible work out a
definite plan for her future care. Mrs
j. herself was first visited and 1T was
learned that she had several brothers
and sisters, and daughter who gave
food and fuel occasionally, but as they
did not do it systematically she had no
way of knowing just where she would
get the next meal. The daughter was
first interviewed and very willingly
agreed to send groceries every two
weeks. She had not done so before
because she had not felt the necessity
for it as her mother was receiving out
side assistance. The other relatives |
were interviewed and it was learned |
that two of Mrs, is sisters had offered |
her a home but as she preferred to live |
alone they were under the impression |
that she was being we'll provided for |
by her friends. They too agreed to help |
her with vegetables from the farm,
fuel and small amount of money to
be used as necessary. AS the result of
the work done, Mrs. J. is relieved of
all anxiety of the future, the relations
are assuming the responsibility which
is properly theirs, and the community
is relieved eff the burden which they
have carried for years.
This is only one of ffty-nine cases
which have been referred to Miss
Hood. Of this number, SO have actual
ly been worked on. These are of
course not all alike. The problems
presented by them have been many
and varied. Among. them may be men
toned, six feeble-minded children who
need special training, eight children
who are backward in school due to de-
fective sight, adenoids, etc =, neglected
children whose condition is due to the
drunkenness or immortality
Of their parents, cripple children who
have no mother and whose father
drinks, etc. -
Furthermore, the work is we'll scat
tered over the county, as oddly two of
the nineteen election districts are not
in the number.
If the Association is successful in
raising the 81, OOU necessary to conduct
his work during the next year, it will
mean that these, and many more cases
which have been an expense to the
county, or their neighbors. and many
children now growing up in ill health
10 that they will eventually become
county charges, will be made self
and self-respecting citizens,
'r else will becared for by relatives
Who are logically responsible for their
ARE
The first meeting of the Board of
Managers of the new association
;ook place in Upper Marlboro on Tues
lay last. We trust that the citizens
# the county will respond to this need
and send in their subscriptions promptly
% the First National Bank of Southern
Nd, Upper Marlboro.