Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-17
NEW FIELD WORKER
FOR AID SOCIETY
ac~.
Miss Harriet Abbott, Vassar
Graduate, to Assist Miss Jose.
.phine Observation-Disclosures
in Bellows Falls and Field the
Ia
Southern Half of State

AZ the monthly meeting Of the board OF
hr>ctors OF the Vermont Children's Aid
)ociety. Inc. held in the library OF the
state Board of Health Thursday after
room, 1t was announced that the society Is
aking another long step forwaru IN Sc
iuring q new field worker. Miss Harriet
Abbott, a graduate of Vassar College IN
he class of 1895. to assist Miss Josephine
webster, the general secretary. in the
work of the organization, especially as
.cgards case work. The new worker will
have her headquarters in Bellows Fails
and win cover the southern half of the
state, while Miss webster will confine her
Efforts largely to the northern half of tho
state.
Miss Abbott comes to Vermont from an
important position In Peoria, H., where
,he hos served as the director of the chill
arens bureau. conducted by the Peoria
.41ild Welfare League. Miss Abbott is
recommended highly by all with whom
she has worked as a most thorough. ef-
fjcient and reliable investigator.
In addition to the broader work known
as Child Welfare" Miss Abbott has had
considerable Juvenile court experience.
rhe Peoria Children's Bureau, Of which
she was director, developed an extensive
and successful program of constructive
work. including playground and school
work. infant welfare and the work of re-
Mobilization with families, called lease
work.
The Children's Bureau was reluctant to
part with Miss Abbotts services, but she
Wss induced to accept the Vermont offer
By Miss Webster, under whom she at one
nme worked for the Duchess County
thew York; Child Welfare Board.
The Vermont Children's Aid Society,
49, krn1 frrxfy 20 in
recurring a worker of such varied expert
snce and proven ability, at n time when
tho number of cases of children in danger
pr distress, referred to the society, Is far
beyond the power Of one worker to handle.
For some time past. the board of directors
HAS been carefully searching for just the
hight person 10 act as an assistant TO Miss
Webster. and 1t is felt that the search
has been we'll rewarded.
Those present at the regular monthly
meeting of the board OF directors Thurs
day were: Mrs. Charles NJ. Cone Of Hart
s6fd: Mrs. G.. II. Eggleston of Proctor;
Mrs. E. A. Linderholm, A. r. Clifford and
Miss L. Josephine Webster Of Burlington,
IND Guy w. Bailey Of Essex Junction.
The report of the general secretary, Miss
+. Josephine Webster. showed that. dur
ing the last month, g new cases have been
Rken up, and that 30 former cases have
been given attention. Five homes have
heen investigated. with the prospect OF
placing children in them. One physical
examination and four mental examinations
h&ve been given to children.
Since the society commenced work last
November, 1T cases Of children IN danger
and distress have been referred to it. Dur
ng this time, Is physical examinations and
hine mental examinations Of children have
been conducted, and II children have been
taken into the custody of the society. OF
fhass, II. five have now been discharged
while Il remain in custody. OF these Il
flour are in free homes. six in boarding
Shomes and two in hospitals.
+, The expenses to the society involved II
ieAring for these children has been dimin.
ttShed by $137, collected from parents.
H BY finding a home for one small boy
md by inducing a parent, we'll able tt
! do 30. to support another child, whose
keep had been paid by the town. Mis-
Webster saved one town $500. The yearly
cost OF keeping one of tho children wa:
about $500 and threatened to continue fol
4 long term of years.
Another case discussed at the meeting
was that of a young boy sent to the Es
sex Preventorfum for physical upbuiid
ing. It is hoped that mental development
will come in this case with better health
although the lad is mentally retarded a
present. When he is discharged from thu
Preventorium, the Childrens Aid Societ.
will arrange for tho proper care Of thi
handicapped child.