Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-06-21
Report OF The Social Worker.

Miss Margaret Brooke, the Social Worker
submitted to the annual convention of thu
Social Service League of this county:
During the four months in which it ha'
been my privilege to do social work for tn,
Social Service League, have been deepl,
impressed with the beauty and size Of
Montgomery county. Ihave always known
that it was fertile and wide, but never
before have fully realized its charm Oh
what large amount Of territory it covers
Both of these characteristics have had a
direct influence upon my work. 1t has been
an inspiration to work in such surround
ings and has led to the placing of very
high ideals as the end for which to strive.
The size of the county has also been in
spring, for 1t has meant variety in scenery,
people and conditions. But it has also
been a handicap in the fact of the greater
distances to cover. The average number
of working days in each month is twenty
six. and when this is divided in half it leaves
me but thirteen days to give to each organi-
cation by which am employed. in thirteen
days it is difficult to cover four hundred
and ninety square miles thoroughly How
ever, in the fifty-two days belonging to the
Social Service League in February, March,
April and May, paid one hundred and
forty-six visits. There were many Office
interviews and consultations. and there
also was the necessary Office work, such as
telephone calls, writing up records and
letters and keeping account Of the running
expenses. About is per cent of the visits
were what is known as visits to applicants,
or. in other words, visits to those who had
applied to US for assistance or who had
been referred to us by some agency or in
dividual as being in need of physical,
mental or moral help. The remaining IS
per cent Of the visits might be classed
under the head of follow-up work or
personal interviews with those in any way
interested in our clients. Relatives. family
physicians. schools. other social agencies
who at some time have worked with the
family clergymen, former neighbors and
employers. all can furnish valuable data
which will enable us to deal more intelli-
gently with our clients. The consultation
is usually an Office interview, which may
range from the man who wishes five dol
lars as loan to pay the rent to the wOm-
an who wants to know what color the baby's
next pair of shoes should be.
Not only does this work take time. but it
takes money There are the Office supplies
which must be bought, such as paper.
carbon sheets, paste. ETC., and the large
item OF postage. The telephone with the
expense of long distance calls, when time
is consideration, is an absolute necessity
as well as an expense. Travelling expenses
we're large for February and March. when
hired vehicles we're the only means Of
conveyance. Now with the Ford, which
is owned by the Social Service League and
is Joy to run, it seems as If we get more
work done each month for less money. An
item in the expense account, so small as to
scarcely warrant its mention. is that Of the
money actually given to our clients. This
has been covered, in the four months, by
twenty cents, given for carfare to a man
who was by rights Washington Associa-
ted Charities case and who was eventually
cared for by them. Up to June first, the
average total expense was about $3.50
per month.
There are many reasons why this work
is most important particularly at this
time. In the first place, the fact that
Montgomery county takes an interest in
such things shows anew that it is pro-
gressive. Social work helps to break down
those social barriers and class distinctions
which are menace to true democracy, and
which many hold responsible for the world
war. Also this is national year Of baby
and child saving. One Of the best chan
nels for the spread of knowledge and in
formation as to the most effective methods
of child conservation is through the social
worker, who must of necessity know where
such knowledge is most needed Such
needs can be mentioned almost endlessly,
but few serve to show the real call for
this service
| The field of social work is large and
there are many different aspects from which
each case may be viewed. There is the
educational side. In huge per cent of
the visits 1t was found that the children
Of the family are not made to 60 to school
regularly. The excuse no clothing or no
shoes is given the attendance officer, when
what is needed most often is someone who
| has more time to give to the case than
the attendance officer, in order TO find out
why the children have no clothes or no
shoes. To remedy the conditions affecting
such families is often long job. but in
the end it means fewer indigents for the
county or State to support. by virtue Of the
children being mentally more fit to earn a
living through having attended school regu-
larly There is the viewpoint Of health.
In county where there is a public nurse
this is important for the social worker only.
as he may detect, in the broader scope Of
his work, physical conditions which may
account for much IN his clients mode oil
life. and by referring said client TO the
proper source put things in train for bet
ter standard Of living The influence Of
social service from moral standpoint ls
Of course, great, for everyone knows that
the League stands for clean living and
clean thinking, and in the intimate rela-
tionship which must exist between worker
and client there are many chances for
moral suasion. The mental stimulus is
also an important consideration. Often
the very fact Of visit at any hour from
someone who until lately has been a
stranger, but who is now friend. will
lead up to efforts at mental and physi-
cal cleaning up"
The Lind NJ clianta uyhop, ,.,a ho,,a ,nau