Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1921-11-11
CHILD WELFARE
 BOARD WORK IS
 NOW UNDERWAY

NVW UNULnWHl
 The Mohave County Child Welfare Board met last Saturday afternoon in the Directors room of the Arizona Central Bank, completed their organi- zation and elected the following off cers:
 Mrs. Tafel, chairman of the board, Mrs. John Musser, secretary, Mrs. C. A. Patterson, treasurer and Mrs. Charles Lynch, chairman of the in vestigating committee.
 These ladies should make an active board that will accomplish a great deal in this county for child welfare. The board in choosing Mrs. Tafel for chairman, picked a woman who mas had a great deal of experience in club work in Mesa and Phoenix.
 Mrs. T. J. Hudspeth, member of the state board, appointed by Governor Thomas E. Campbell, spent a couple of days in the county last week, in connection with the work returning to her home in Seligman the latter part of the week. Mrs. Hudspeth and other members of the state board are using their personal funds in connec- tion with this work as the board is allowed only $5,000 year for secre- tary's salary and travelling expenses The other $25,0OO year is used for expenses in taking care of the child ren, who are dependent upon the state. There have been several cases al ready reported from Mohave County.
 At this time there is no state in stitution for handling such cases, and it is possible that later home may be built in Northern Arizona, and Kingman with it's equable all-year- round climate may be the place chosen.
 While here Mrs. Hudspeth read a paper before the Thursday Afternoon Club which gives very good synopsis of the work of this new state depart ment. The paper was as follows: "Madam President and Ladies':
 The September number of the Ari- zona Teacher and Home Journal con- tains an article written by Mrs. H. A. Guild, Secretary of the State Child Welfare Board, which think gives the dearest explanation of House Bill No. 51. Permit me to read it:
 "'Unless this country is made a good place for all of us to live in, il wont be good place for any of us to live in. In this sentence Theodore Roosevelt expressed the hope and pur' pose for the new movement for the better care of orphans, waifs, neglect ed or abandoned children.
 In 1911 a general agitation for the betterment of children was noticeable in Widows Pension Laws and Chilt Welfare Laws passed by the variou: State Legislatures. Forty one state! now have such laws. In all these car be noted an emphasis on the care o1 children in the home rather than 1T institutions, the State recognizing home life as the only ideal life fol children. Those who, through misfor tune, are deprived of normal home: are boasded, if possible, with foster parents or in the home of the child! own widowed mother.
 In 1917 Widows Pension Law wa! passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by the Governor. It failet to stand the test of the Supreme Court although, before its repeal, i was of great assistance to variou! County Boards of Supervisors in say ing many homes from being broker up through poverty resulting from tht death or desertion of the father. Co chise County did notably efficien work under this bill, spending more money and caring for more childrer than any other county in the state.
 Last winter our Legislature passed House Bill 51, called "An Act to pre- vent delinquency or dependenc! among minor children. This bill pro vides for State Child Welfare Boart appointed by the Governor and 2 County Board appointed by the Judge of the Superior Court of each county The ultimate purpose of the bill is "That the care, custody and discipline of child shall be approximately a. near as may be, that which should be given by its parents, and in all cases where it can be properly done, the child to be placed in an approved fam. lily home, and become a member of the family by legal adoption or other wise".
 Under the provisions of this bill the State Child Welfare Board may assume the guardian ship of all or. phans, waifs, neglected or abandoned children under sixteen years of age whose parents are American citizens and who have lived in Arizona one year prior to the application for re, lief. A child coming under the care .nf fha Stafa Child Walfaro Roard n,