The Connecticut labor press., 1919-08-02
MORE WORK FOR HOME SERVICE
 IN PEACE TIME
Red Cross Department Enlarged to Handle Problems of
 Community Life.

Red Cross Home Service ts to con- tfnue and to expand, This decision was reached by the Red Cress after very thorough and searching process of stock-taking as to what Home Serv- after numerous conferences of Red Cross officials representing all parts of the Red Cross organization and all parts of the United States.
 At a recent conference of Division Directors of Civilian Relief impressive evidence was offered on the desire of Home Service Sections to extend to any family the same kind of neighbor- ly service and counsel as they had been extending to soldiers and sailors families.
 There were also numerous requests to launch out on many other kinds of service. This desire to go on was par ticularly characteristic of those Home Service Sections in places which have no other social service agencies.
 Demand for Extension.
 For the first time these people had realized what it means to rally all of the community's forces for well-being and to bring them into operation for the benefit of families in difficulty, and theysee no reason why this should be confined to the families of soldiers and sailors This demand from the coun- try at large constituted the determin- ing factor in the decision of the Red Cross officials to continue Home Serv- ice.
 Tn putting this decision into effective practice the Red Cross officials are es- pecialTy concerned to see that the serv- ice to soldiers and sailors families shall in no way be impaired.
 The Red Cross is committed to com plete responsibility for the welfare of those families; they are regarded as primary patriotic obligation upon it's resources of service and of funds. TheseA officials are, therefore, asking such Home Service Sections as desire to expand their service to put their cases before their Division Director of Civilian Relief.
 He will then pass upon their appli- cations to make sure that each one is meeting every reasonable expectation with regard to its present responsibili- ties and is equipped to perform addi- tional service in a creditable manner.
 When a Home Service Section is au- thorized to enlarge its work 1t will be given authority to use for the enlarged Home Service any funds in the Chapter treasury, now set aside for Home Serv- ice, and the Chapter Executive Com mittee may also appropriate for this purpose any unencumbered funds which it has.
 These funds will be available for financial assistance and any kind of service for families and for operating expenses of the Home Service Section. Home Service funds will not be avail able for building or operating hospitals, orphanages or other institutions or for substituting the work of other organiza- tions.
 To Act on invitation.
 In widening its clientele at home the Red Cross will adhere strictly to its policy of extending service to a family only in response to an invitation from it. It is not contemplated that the Red Cross will of itself originate contact with any family or go where it is un- welcome. The same principles of serv- ice found so successful in helping the families of soldiers and sailors will be applied.
 Division offices and National Head quarters will go on helping Home Serv- ice Sections to develop and to maintain a high standard of work. Accurate in- formation will be furnished by them on all governmental activities. Advice and guidance will be accorded with the clear understanding. however, that the fullest measure of local autonomy is always necessary and desirable.
 There is so much to be done in every community that they are especially cautioned against duplicating activities which other organizations are carrying on, even though in a small way. It is anticipated that Home Service Sec tions will study the local conditions rather thoroughly before they make application to extend their work.
 The whole attitude of the responsible Red Cross officials is to go slowly and surely and to build on solid founda- tion of past experience. Before any Home Section will be authorized to proceed on an enlarged program they will want to know how permanent and genuine is it's desire and how able 1t Is to swing the new job. A passing en- thusiasm will not be sufficient to con vince them.