The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-10-28
GETS LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Miss L. Josephine Webster, Secretary
of Vermont Children's Aid.

L M
Miss L. Josephine Webster, general
secretary of the Vermont's Children's
Aid society, has been given leave OF
absence for six months from Nov. l.
This leave has been granted in order
that she may meet request from the
federal children's bureau that she
make special six months study Of
the standards Of child placing agen
cies in various parts of the country.
The directors voted this leave in the
belief that the experience would be in
structive and valuable to Miss Web
ster. in connection with her own work
and with the understanding that at
the conclusion of this special study
Miss Webster will resume her duties as
general secretary Of the Children's Aid
society.
In this matter the society also felt
an obligation to cooperate with the
federal bureau as requested. They also
consider the request q high compli-
ment to Miss Webster and the Ver-
mont society as she is one of two So
cial workers selected by the Washing
ton bureau for this important piece
of work. She win be associated with
Katherine p. Hewins of the Church
Home society, Boston, in making the
survey.
During Miss Webster's absence the
Burlington Office of the society will be
in charge Of Sybil II. Pease. During
the winter, l9ls-l9, Miss Pease made
a study for the emergency children's
aid committee, which led to organizing
a permanent Vermont Children's Aid
society in April. 1919. Since Novem
her, 1920, she has been the placing
out agent of the society. Her spe-
cial work in this position has been
that of locating suitable free and
boarding homes in which wards of the
society may be placed. She has also
done considerable case work. Besides
her early training at the Boston School
of Social Work, Miss Pease, in 1920, !
took the summer course for psychia-
tric social workers at the Smith col
lege training school, and in 1921 spent
some time in the office of the cele-
brated DIR. William Healey of the
Judge Baker Foundation in Boston.
The directors have always been i'm
pressed with the thorough and care
full character of her work.
The work Of the southern district, |
the four thousernmost coun
ties, with Office at Bellows Falls, will |
continue as hitherto in charge of Har-
riett f. Abbott. Miss Abbott has filled |
this position since July, 1920, and in |
the two years of her service has built |
up strong local support for the society |
ia her district.
To continue the working staff in
full f2rce during Miss Webster's alb
senee the society has secured Alice
Gray Hiekox, formerly of Middletown |
Springs. Miss Hickox has had exten
sive experience in child welfare work
in Connecticut, Delaware and Massa-
,husetts. Her last position under Miss
Hewins in Boston was with society |
which emphasizes family rehabilita
ton. To help the Vermont society in
its work to meet the fed
sral bureaus request, Miss Hewins
consented to release Miss
Hickox. She speaks in terms Of high
st praise OF Miss Hickox fitness for
ier work and of her devotion to the
interests of her charges.
For some time officers of the Chill
iren's Aid society have hoped to form
/ northern district, comprising the
northern tier Of counties, with Office
possibly in Newport, st. Albans or st.
II is hoped that support
II the work will warrant doing this
n the near future. And also in this
'onnection the society, hopes to~be able
@ retain the services of Miss Hickox
Ifter Miss Webster's return.