New Britain herald., 1919-11-13
CHARITY WORKERS
 READY TO ASSIST
Mill Do Usual Good Work During
 Holiday Seasons

toiS or the New Britain Charity Organization was held last evening at winch the following report was pre- sented by Miss Cora VI. Beale, agent:
 As the holidays approach, the
 Charity Organization again offers it's services as a clearing house. We are ready to contidentially compare dln- ner lists to aid other orGanlzal1OnS
 and churches, so that no one Will ba
 overlooked and go hungry While a less deserving family receives dou- ble share. We stand with two hands held outcome to those in need ;tnd
 the other to you who are the beuc-
 factors The emphasis of team work
 is brought to our minds more forcibly than ever at this time, for we have so thoroughly learned in the past few years that the best results can be obtained only by this wholehearted team work or cooperation. What organization in this city trying it's ut most 10 serve it's fellow-men can ade- quately do so all by itself? Think of the overlapping, the time wasted, the unnecessary energy expended!
 At a recent meeting of the Inter- City Conference of Social Workers of Connecticut the topic for discussion was Cooperation Between Social Workers special emphasis being laid upon the cooperation between proba- ton officers and social workers. The agent, being part~time woman proba- tion officer, was especially interested Tn the following extracts from a paper by our probation officer, F. C. Con- nolly read at the conference. In speaking of team work from the view point of d probation officer, he says:
 Whether he realizes it or not, the probation officer is himself funda- mentally and primarily a social worker, although a sworn officer of the law. Being endowed with all the power, duties and privileges of such, he has in this respect somewhat the advantage of other social workers in dealing with certain types of cases.
 Probation Work.
 The most effective results in pro- bation work come from tying up the probationer to the constructive forces of the community. If you fill his life full of constructive things he will have neither time nor opportunity for the dostructive.' This statement shows the recognition of the values of cooperation
 Tt is the duty Of a probation off, cer to keep in close touch with the social agencies of the community that he can have at his immediate com- mand the best resources and CO., operation "F...
 How is this co-operation to be l brought about? Up to the year 1906 l New Britain had the old form of sep arate town and city governments. In l that year, however, the charter was am ended to bring about consolidation. | Amongst other changes, the handling of the charity and town poor problem 1 was taken out of the hands of tho l seiectmen and placed with board of l six men appointed by the mayor. One Of the charter provisions governing the conduct of this board was that the superintendent of poor shall 1 when possible, work with and accept assistance from any charitable socie- ties or churches of the city, to the end that such cooperation may bring about an intelligent relief of the poor The personnel of this board consisted of a banker, a farmer, a grocer, a clergyman and two factory business men. The clergyman. Rev. l.. $. Johnson, was appointed superinten- dent of the board. This was done ad- Vlsedly by suggestion of the mayor, as Rev. Mr. Johnson had the confi- dence of the community, had no axe 10 grind, was a man of large vision already city missionary, agent of the Charity Organization and probation officer; in fact, one of the few men in New Britain able to get at the heart of the need and bring about the CO., operation so badly needed in our city at that time. From 1906 10 1915 Rev. MT. Johnson worked hard and consistently, aided by faithful, con- scientious workers, friends and pub lic-spirted men and women interest ed in the welfare of the community, until, at his retirement in 1915, he was able to say in his last report:
 ' Tt seems fitting that brief mcn- tion should be made of the great value of the cooperative service which now obtains throughout tha reformatory, emedial and benevolent agencies of our city. From d period Just prior to consolidated government I9O6) there was little cohesiveness or apparent disposition to co-operate service along any lines of philan- thropy or civic welfare.'
 To-day there are upward of 40 diff ferent churches and societies in active MRs-E-a-xEs.sz1zslsz.l.E- ---..-zzx--..ae