Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-27
WORKS IN INTEREST
OF VERMONT CHILDREN
Miss josephine Webster, With
Ten Years Of Practica l Elk
pericnce, Establishes Head.
Quarters In Burlington as Gen.
eral Secretary Of Aid Society

Vermont now has a full-ti:ne worker
solely in the interests Of children. Miss
Josephine Webster. who has had noarly
10 years Of practical experience In child
welfare and social reconstruction work,
hos arrived in Burlington and begun her
duties MS general secretary ana fnld
worker of the Vermont Chi.drea's Aid
society. Miss Webster has established
headquarters at tn. University OF Ver-
mont Medical College. room &c. she will
spend much timc going about the State
in connection with the task which the
Chi:drsn's aid society plars to take upon
!.sslf.
Organization Of che framework OF the
locisty In Vermont has alre-dy been
started by Professor A. II. Clifford of this
city. who heads Up the work for Vermont.
Committees gro being appointed in each
county TO take general charge Of the
local work in that county, SO that Miss
Webster will have some definite organiza-
ton through which to work when che
visits each community. The lat OF COM
mjttees FOR :he State .s not yet complete.
bu. vii! probably be finished IN tire ncar
fcture-
Duplication Of efforts in the work Of this
society with other societies will be
avoided It being felt that thsre q work
CROUCH for all, and the Vermont Chi-
d.an'o AID society will have a specific
kind Of work to do. The society will
cooperate with other existing societies,
including the State board of charities. the
Red Cross civilian relief. tie State Board
OF Health. and any other organizations
which are doing relief work for children.
Working together with those societies,
It is felt that much can be accomplished
It is planned to hold conference Of
L. At. IF1
ment in Vermont on December in this
city. 1t Is probable that representatives
of the State board Of charities will meet
with the officers and field worker of the
Vermont Childrens Aid society," and It
Is expected that Miss Marion Rowe, field
supervisor for the home service section
OF the Red Cross In Vermont, will also
be present. Miss Rowe is connected with
the headquarters office of the New Eng
land division Of the Red Cross, in Boston.
At this meeting. a more comprehensive
program will be outlined than has been
laid out thus far. During the next few
days, before this meeting is held, Miss
Webster will travel somewhat in the
southern part of the State in order to
get better acquainted with the needs Of
Vermont. Miss Webster has had consider
able experience with welfare work in
the mountain regions Of Kentucky, so
that rural problems are not new to her.
Miss Webster states that the first work
to be emphasized by the Vermont State
Children's Aid society is to help needy
families. In worthy cases, to take care
Of their children. 30 that the children
will not have to be taken from their
homes. It is an established fact that the
children who can be brought up In their
own homes are much better of than those
who are taken out of their homes and
placed elsewhere. Every child needs the
homo life. and it should be obtained in
Its own home in preference to any other
home.
1t will DO the attempt Of the Vermont
Chfldren's Aid society, therefore, to first
help needy families to help themselves,
Ia order that they may be able to take
proper care of their own children. Chill
dren will be taken from their homes only
as a last resort, where 1t is found that
the parents are not competent to take
care Of the children, or will not do so.
In cases where children have been left
without parents or where the parents are
manifestly untitled to care for the chill
dren. the society will try to find proper
homes for the little ones. This Is a more
delicate task than 1t might seem at first
thought.
Not only must homes be found for the
children. but there must also be con-
siderable care in placing children, but
there must also be considerable care in
placing the children in these homes. 1t is
very necessary that each child should
be In a fit condition physically and
mentally to 90 into a good home. and it
10 Just as necessary. for the welfare of
both the child and the family, that the
child should go to the family. This work
Of selection and preparation of the chill
dren for the new homes is probably the
most important part of the task which
as before Miss Webster, as she sees 1t.
The hearty support of the people of
Vermont in carrying on this work is
needed, not so much in money. but in
interest and willingness to spend a little
time and help out bit, according to
Miss Webster. What is NEEDED first is
people who are willing to help in prepar-
ing the needy children for their foster
homes.
In many places, people Of means have
made practice of taking in children and
helping to accustom them to the good
homes into which they are going. training
them in the ways of good home life. To
many It is pleasure to see the small
life which has been denied the home in
huence respond to kind treatment and
blossom out into normal healthy child
hood under the influence of real home
life
Then. also. Miss webster needs the CO.
operation Of families who will board chill
dren for a certain length Of time until
Foster homes can be found for them
families willing to help and with good
home life, but not feeling that they could
afford to take care of children without
some financial consideration. such fam
Nies can help. but there should be some
oiing moro than the mere money con-
efdereUon In mind. or such families will
not re Of the most help to the child. AL
though the Vermont Childrens Aid so
ciety will be willing to pay in such cases,
It will insist that there be tho right spirit
VI helpfulnese and lows for the children,
In order that the best results may follow
Then. finally. tho society needs the hearty
corporation Of families who want to
take children and adopt them. 1t Is felt
that there must be many such homes In
Vermont, some of them childless homes
which could be made much happier by
the presence of children, and in which
the children would find real happiness
and the opportunity for reaching the
better things Of life. Miss Webster hopes
that many such families will be found
In the State, a sufficient number at least
70 tnke care of the children who may
Deed the homes.
t.uLi THE COLD SEASON