Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-25
Family welfare Department.

The work of the family welfare de-
iaartment, formerly the City Mission.
was thoroughly reviewed by Miss Edith
Moran who has charge Of that work at
the present time. Miss Morans report
which was very interesting was in part
as follows:
The past year in the family welfare de-
partnent, formerly the City Mission, has
been one of change, during which the
work has been gradually developed along
more modern lines.
We have been of service to 172 fami-
lies, which has involved 762 office calls
and S02 outside ones, besides numerous
letters and telephone calls. Their prob
| lens have varied. In a few cases the
assistance has bsen given as a loan. to
be paid back in small. regular payments.
Some families have been helped regularly,
| where the wage Garner is physically in
| capacitated, aged, or has died.
There have also been the problems Of
| neglected children, runaway boys and
Maynard girls, unmarried mothers, i'm
morality, cruelty. non-support and deser-
! ton, the feeble minded and opileptic, the
| transient man and the aged. The new
| juvenile court with the recently enacted
| child welfare legislation will make the
problem of the delinquent, neglected or
| deficient child much easier to handle and
/ give these children a better chance in life
than they have previously had.
In times past our department has been
! mainly one of material relief giving, but
| family welfare smeans much more than
this. To develop normal family life, both
preventive and constructive work must
| be done to raise the family above the
need of asking for relief This necess5-
i-,--
root of the family disability can be
reached and diagnosed. When the fam
lily comes to realize the visitor is friend
| who is ready. to help them over the hard
places, then the difficulties begin to lesser
and conditions improve
| Our largest foreign population is Pol.
ish. Owing to the irregular work shert
and the unsettled condition of POLAND
and Russia. these people are ofteii il
need of assistance. The parents speal
little or no English SO usually a child o.
neighbor has to interpret when the visitor
calls at the house. Often the interview:
are not satisfactory. The parents can
1 not understand why the visitor has to asl
so many Questions. when all they want i
|, "a ton Of coal" or "a pair of shoes To-
, Mary" Neither can they understand VIII,
| they should not all sleep in one bed witt
/ | Dali
cheeks Of their children they attribute t
hack of food rather than lack a fresl
air. The ones under school age are of
ten kept in the house all winter an,
spend their waking hours in a hot kitch
! en- Often the coal or shoes are not NOR
: necessary than instruction in the care @
the children and the home. This canno
be given unless the family welfare work
er can have the assistance of a voluntee
Polish visitor. Several people who woul
: i be willing to help in this way might or
i ganize to be called upon when necessary
S One who has already been of service t
, US feels that this plan can be carrie
out
We realize that many families VIII
t need our help are not reached~by L
J. because they feel too proud to accept 81
S called Charity" The charity may onl
: be a friendly talk, whereby some NEAR
Of readjusting the family resources ca
+ be pointed out, SO that better results al
;, obtained. At other times it may be
g temporary loan or help with clothin
y When you hear of family or individu
e in need Of our assistance or advice cor