Evening journal., 1921-01-19
SAVELWESBY
WELFARE WORK
Continued from Page one)


provide such protection for motheS
and children as yer before had
been accorded them by the State. The
money from the State covers only a
fraction OF the present need, but it
shows the good faith OF the State In
regard to its children. Z
The Reconstruction Commission be-
gan its work May 4, 1919, on the nrm
foundation OF facts presented by the
research and activities OF. the Wo-
mans Committee OF the State Council
OF Defense. The committee had dis
covered that at least 1875 babies OF
every 1000 born in Delaware were
dying before reaching one year Of age
and that about 20 per cent. OF the
children in Sussex county and In Will
mington did not live 10 be flve years
old. II had also learned that COM
4 munities in other States had greatly
lowered similarly tragic rates by
means OF intensive health service for
mothers and children. The commit
tee made a close study OF the methods
iinat had been most successful else
where and organized and. operated
its work accordingly.
Child Health Centers. IS
Ten child health centers have been
fully operated by the commission,
end six others by cooperative plan.
I've CfUIfTE NuUNNINtu uN AnE ANAA~
mission are located in Wilmington,
and one each at Seaford. George
town, Dover, Middletown and New
ark. To the centers have come thous-
ands OF mothers and children desiring
s8ia secrets OF health and from them
have gone nurses crusaulng Tor
health The main idea governing the
service, the report states, has been
that an ounce OF prevention is worth
pound OF cure, consequently greae
a10rt has been put into teaching the
big truths OF general hygiene and
& PROPER care OF mothers. babies and
children. The service has hecn car
II rcd on by corps OF physicians
4 nurses and social workers and volun-
y 4he State have generously given their
& services without charge TO help IN
the work. The nurses and social
workers workers have been paid.
T To december /. 1920. 1924 mothers
81 and children have received cnlln
. health service, either at the centers
or by home or scaool visits OF the
n health center nurses. These cases IN.
clude 498 prenatal cases and ii,l4o
4 cases Of children ranging in age from
infancy through adolescence, 4io9
81 were school examination cases. 10
N the last nine months commission
f. nurses Inrlt lfsNlI RANNAo ~ NARA",-I
rratieuts. and patients made i3,olg
/ visits TO centers. Prenatal care ana
.inetruction for eXpectant mothers mas
a heen an important branch OF the
Il service. Three dispensaries have also
II been operated, two in Whmin ngton n
s and one In Dover, with a total Of zvo'
II natients. Treatments and prescrip-
Il .f,ons have been given at al dispen-
saries. subject TO standard profess
ctonal .etimlette rulings.
rhe cofnmlssion has frequently
h.en asked 10 open health centers ID
various places, but for lack OF funds
could not do 50. However, u WORK
S I'd out plan Of co-operauon WI WI
n cr,vrna New Castle Midway, Hook
n essin Yorklyn. Harrington. Lewes
Wnlshoro and Selbyyille committees
mai has resulted in establishment OF
4 nlans for early opening ~ centers
'1she commission furnishes nurse
one day a week TO cooperative cen
'tsrs. local committees pay Tor equip
.,rrnt and r;funing expenses
Meath Rate lowered. ---1-
lie ioi9 infant death rate Of Wal.
,nvion was one-third lower thar
t,,ot ~ 1918 and the State-Wlde IN
- death rate was reduced = nel
cent. the booklet states. The deauls
~ children under two years or az.
have declined from an average ,a,s 9i 81, q,
=, less than POO for the summer
r-onths Of each OF the last two years
IA Inc deaths under five years lei
seroro as 10 222 for the same periods
- 1919 was the flrst year the chic
/. health center work was IN nun SWINE
shese figures are signlncant State,
vide statistics for the summer OF
200 show a reduction OF forty per
" ,ent In infant mortality as compared
9th that OF 1917 and a cut or % pei
nnt in Sussex county hgures.
Sunport for the idea OF intensive
ant and early child health work Is
given in the high percentage OF pre-.
examinations Of Delaware schoo
The commission has conducted
aH leri activities besides health cen
! the booklet states. Il Is tn
neer in physical inspection O.
al school children, having furnish
the FIRST nurses In that field o
Syors and The first general medica
director. II has dispensed thousand
OF quarts OF high-gradc milk througi
the Wilmington centers and WOrke.
hard TO secure a better grade OF mill
for general use. A go-to-school cam
paien was conducted In the fall tina
brought about continuation OF scno9i
ing FOR a number or children. IN
commission arranged a mouth ny
.giene campaign that resulted In IN
travelling dental unit now operatin
under the state Board Of Education
studies were made 10 discover con
'ditiOns affecting all classes OF chill
III dren. Research concerning law an
practice was a definite part OF thi
work.
Not Enough Money.
The cost Of operation OF all wor
oNav 4. 1919, to January 4, 1921.
reckoned at $50, 1869 Of which $50
Zoo was from state appropriation
The balance came by donation q
money, service or equipment froI
federal agencies. private organlza
tions or individuals
Law Changes Recommended.
Complying With the law which n
Ulires the commission 10 make re,
.cmmendations for executive and lef
islative action, IL discusses the ques
tions OF consolidation, duplcatio
and gaps In child welfare service. Pa
economy and efficiency It recommend
some re-grouping and broadening Z
state service in all branches Of chill
welfare and closer cooperation bt
tween public and private work, wit
The state having such supervisor
.nowers in regard TO private agenc
work that the State will carry IN
responsibility for service, but privai
effort win not lose It's accustone
- a