Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-11
CHILD WELFARE WORK
Secretary OF Vermont Society Tells
What LIS Being Accomplished


How does a child welfare worker spend
her time? What is the Vermont Chill
dren's Aid society doing? These questions
were explicitly answered in the report
made by Miss Josephine Webster. gen
eral secretary Of the Vermont Childrens
Aid society, to the March meeting of her
hoard of directors, recently held in Mont
pelier. Miss Webster, who makes her
headquarters in Burlington, opened her
report with a few interesting statistical
data. In January she spent her time in
the following activities: 1l6 personal in
terviews 165 letters written: three pub
lie addresses; six homes and two institu-
tions investigated. u new cases taken up
in addition to old cases continued; ii towns
visited; 500 miles Travelled.
For February the data are: 155 personal
interviews: 1A letters; one public address
four free homes and one boarding home
investigated; Is new cases: one court
case involving surrender by parents of
four children. successfully prosecuted :;
two children placed in free homes two
children placed in boarding homes; seven
physical examinations of children: three
mental examinations of children; three
institutions visited: II towns visited: 4S2
miles Travelled.
The society has become the legal guar
dian of six children and stands as vir-
tual guardian 10 four others.
One of the most interesting details of
Miss Nebster's report was that describ-
ing a receiving home for the temporary
care of destitute and neglected children.
The home will meet 2 long-felt need. In
its present form it is experimental. hut
the directors, convinced Of the need of
n home a MT TAI in
a place in which children can be suitably
cared for until foster-homes are found
or the child is fit to be delivered to foe
ter parents. Miss Webster outlined the
efficient scheme Of cooperation adopted
by the Athena club of Burlington. This
club secures needed clothing on demand !;
has sewing bees for the society; and
agrees to furnish big sisters and
friendly visitors" as needed for handi-
| capped children and tottering families.
The klifa club of Burlington has also
proffered its services. II is hoped and ex-
pected that women's clubs generally
throughout the State will follow these
! fine examples of social spirit and efficient
service.
| DR.. &. X. johnson, child specialist has
| given much time to the work of the So
ciety and shown fine spirit of co-opera-
, ton
| Mention should be n AIDE of the many
ways in which the Vermont Children 8
| Aid society and the Tuberculosis associa-
ton are able to help each other. Secre-
! tary Slocum Of the tuberculosis society
has referred numerous cases TO the Chill
drens Aid society and Miss Webster has
| sent several cases to the Essex prevento-
rum. Praise should be given the fine care
| nd nh, t,,.n no, ,I,l,
at the preventorum.
| The work for children is the more sue.
cessful because Of the help given by ex-
perenced volunteer assistants in every
| county in the State. These assistants. too
/ numerous TO mention by name, secure in
! formation, visit cases. assist in procur-
| ing needed relief, etc.
| Finally Miss Webster's report dealt with
a number of problem cases--some solved
| some still in process of treatment. There
were two young brothers. for example
who were placed in neighboring homes sc
| they can frequently see one another; there
was a young maiden taken from an i'm
moral home and placed in a boarding
home; there were four children in on.
immoral family taken as wards by tht
society; there We're several children from
a number of families placed temporarily
either in the Essex preventorum or II
some boarding nome awaiting placing il
| a foster home.
Such are the demands upon the time
the resourcefulness, and the energy of
child welfare worker From all direc
tions the president OF the Vermont Chill
dren's Aid society has received words OF
highest commentator for Miss Webster
Her tact, her resourcefuness, her abilit,
to put things through. and her genial in
terest in the handicapped as human ind
Viduals-all these are mentioned
The society is also fortunate in havins
as directors two members OF the Stat,
Board Of Charities and Probation. PhiliI
T. ii. Pierson, of Bennington. and Charlie!
Tuxbury, of Windsor, The dual relatio,
of these two public spirited men assures
harmony and cooperation between tn,
Children's Aid society and the officia
workers. These two men were among tn,
very first to feel the need of voIunt ee
society which could pursue more fiex
ible policy than a State officer rcstricte,
by legal conditions. They were instru
mental accordingly in launching the Chill
, dren's Aid society which is now supple
, menting so effectively the work of thei
State board,
A. r. CLIFFORD, President