The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-05-20
WELFORE BOARD
IMPORTANT FACTOR
REPORT OF ORGANIZATION FL
ED WITH COUNTY COMMITS
SIONERS LAST MONTH
MANY CASES CARED FOR
CHILDREN GETTING FINE CARE
IN STEARNS COUNTY
UNDER PLAN

The annual report of the Child
Welfare Board of Stearns county for
the year 1919, has been filed with the
County Commissioners by Mrs. A. F.
Moynihan of Sank Centre, secretary
of that organization.
This report shows a number of i'm
portant cases which have been handl-
ed by the board, which is doing ex-
cellent work in Stearns county.
The report in full follows:
cat the close of the first year OF
work in the interest of women and
children by the Stearns County We'll
fare Board, it seems fitting that re-
port should be submitted to the Com
missioners of Stearns county who
have so generously co-operated in the
matter of finances.
"At the time of its appointment the
Board had but a hazy notion Of the
kind and quantity of work it would
be called upon to do. There were no
funds available and, while there was
no outright opposition, there seemed
to exist an un1ercurrent ct skeptic-
ism and distrust toward the new
board that required consideration.
"Mr. VIM. Boerger was elected
chairman of the board and Mrs. A. F.
Moynihan, secretary. Meetings are
held on the last Saturday Of each
month at which time every case re-
ferred to the board is reviewed and
a vote taken before final decision is
reached. Our work has been greatly
facilitated by the generous co-opera-
ton and advice of Judge John A.
Roeser of the Juvenlle Court end OF
County Attorney Paul Ahles.
eve were asked by the State
Board of Control to act rs their rep
resentatives in all matters pertaining
to women and children in Stearns
county. The State Board Of Control
stands ready at all times to advise in
matters which seem to require a
larger experience than has been ours.
"The Investigations have been male
by members of the board in person.
Vouchers for necessary expenses are
submitted to the Commissioners. So
far, there has been no remuneration
for time required in Investigations.
"The work has increased steadily
from month to month. Judge Roe
ser has turned over entire investiga-
ton of Mothers Pensions to the
Child Welfare Board, and in every
case, has been guided by their re-
commentator.
1.-THE number or reflections Of petit
tions for mothers pensions is great
er than the approvals due to the fact
that there seems to exist misunder-
standing of the term, Mothers PEN
sion," throughout the county. Women
who own large farms, good homes,
automobiles and good sized bank &C
counts have petitioned thinking that
the law applied to all widowed
mothers of young children.
"The board has been forced, in the
interest of the taxpayers, to try
every means possible to arouse rela-
tives of these petitioners to their re-
sponsibility. A form letter has been
arrane ed to tie town boards asking
that they assume a small obligation
towards such families.
However, in all truthfu,ness, we
must confess that the response of
relatives and town boards is not what
It. should be.
sThe work Of The boa'l in the III
terest of the unmarried mother and
her child is still in a very uncertain
stage. When our attention is called