The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-04-13
STATE BOARD
NAMES Local.
BOARD; Care /
| | OF CHILDREN j l
County Unit Appointed Under
New Laws; E Enforcement
J Of Child Welfare.
WILL INVESTIGATE CASES
FOR PROBATE JUDGE:
New Board An Official Body.
! Working Through Coun-
/ = ty: in States Behalf.

! The State Board of Control has ap-
pointed Mrs. J. T. Tuomy, Bemidji,
Mrs. James Reade, Blackjack, E. g:
Middleton, Baudette, w. B. Stewart,
Bemidji, county superintendent Of
schools, ,ex-officio, and "A. e. Rako,
Bemidji, member board county COM
missioners, ex7officio, as members of
the Beltrami County Child Welfare
board. - ~ = -..>ts.,.4 Fss ; .s,.,# :: 4
j This board is created under the
provisions of the new laws relating
ito children which we're passed by the
last legislature s..f:es ~. ,.::.S,2s :.ss>
D The board will act as local ad-
ministrative unit for the county in
the enforcement of all laws relating
to the protection Of defective, delin-
quent, dependent and neglected; chill
dren. It is an official body. acting
throughout the county.and in behalf
of the state, for the protection of
children who are in need of the
states care and guardianship
To Work With Judge.
The board will work in close con-
tact with Probate Judge Joseph E.
Harris, who is the Judge of the chill
dren's court. It will investigate for
the judge, applications for county
allowances (so-called mothers pen
sions) and will visit frequently the
homes where such allowances have
been given in order that the fullest
possible measure of help and assist
lance may be rendered to the mother
and her children. The judge will al
SO be assisted in the administration
of the new juvenile court Ia W. Gases
of delinquency and neglect of chill
dren will be investigated by the well
fare board, and the shaping of an en-
lightened policy in dealing with del
inquency should result from the mu-
tual labor of the board and the
judge.
The new laws require special. con-
sideration for the feeble-m minded,
whose numbers are constantly in
creasing and the menace Of whose
existence without supervision and
oversight becomes more alarming as
time passes. The states present IA
cilities are totally inadequate and yet
some temporary policy must be work.
coming session can take action,
which, is imperatively needed. The
county welfare board will advise and
assist the State Board of Control in
the establishment of temporary
remedial measures.
Homes Must Be Approved.
The new laws require that homes
which seek to adopt children must be
visited and approved. In the same
way home that receives a child for
permanent care without adoption
must on investigation prove to be a
proper one to receive the child. The
welfare board will assist in making
these Investigations and will recon-
mend the proper action to be taken
The unmarried mother and the IL
rlegitima ateEchild who are so often in
need of friendly assistance and care
will findsthe welfare board ready to
help in every possible way.
In general. it may be said that the
child welfare board becomes respon-
sible Within the county of its jur-
isdiction. for the protection Of, chill.
dren and the promotion. afss theirsin
terestsc in ALL >tleSYarie eHs ways Sin:
which !. those interests may appear
The welfare board serves without
compensation but it may have a paid
executive agent if the approval Of
the board of county commissioners
is secured. Oftentimes in other
counties county nurse or other So
cial worker in the county has been
chosen to do this work. which re
suits in economy and prevents dupli
cation of effort and expense.