The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1922-02-23
Sank Centre, Mimi.
Jan. 22nd, 1922.


Jan. 22nd. 1922.
To the Board of County
Commissioners
ST. Cloud, MINI.
Gentlemen:
The Stearns County Child Welfare,
Board completed the third year of it's
work in the interest of women and
children resident in the county on
Jan. 9Th. We herewith submit re-
port on various phases of this work
which is delegated to US by the State
Board of Control our own Juvin1le
Court and numerous outside agencies.
personnel of the Board during the
year. Mrs. Halvor Halvorson Of Sank
Centre resigned in July and the res
ignation of Mrs. Moynihan at the
same time left the Board for four
months without a secretary. On Dec.
LIST Mrs. Helen Ingram of Sank Centre
was appointed to fill the vacancy left
by Mrs. Halvorson. Mrs. Moynlhan
secretary and with the approval of
the County Commissioners, is now be-
ing paid for clerical work.
During the year there has been
and one in Sank Centre. The last Sat
urday of the month is still the regular
meeting day.
Early in the year the Board found
that during the time of its existence
such mass of records and cores
pondence had accumulated that some
method of filing became imperative.
A regulation fling system was IN
stalled with the help of Miss Louise
Pye whom the Board or Control very
kindly loaned US.
We have constantly been guided in
handling our cases by the splen1io
advice an assistance of the Child
rens Bureau of the State Board OF
Control.
1t is impossible in this report to
make a financial statement as no re-
cord of expenditures was kept during
the absence Of a secretary. We hope
another year to be able to give de-
tailed report on the matter.
Between Jan. 9Th, 1921 ana Jan. 9Th,
1922 the Child Welfare Board has in
vestigated 1853 cases. Eighty-four are
new cases and siXty-nine have been
carried over from 1920.
Out of this total, seventy-three were
Mothers Pension cases in which from
one to four visits were made to each
family during the year by some MEM
Der Of the Board. Fifty-four of these
are old cases drawing pension FOR
some time previous. Nine OF these
were automatically dropped during
applications during the year. Out OF
these new applications, nine were re-
jected. nine were granted and one
married shortly after her pension had
been granted. Two old cases were
granted increases; one mother OF
three children under seven was raised
from SIS to $25 and one mother OF
five children under fifteen was raised
from SIS to $50. 81 of these mothers
reside in ST. Cloud.
Jan. 1st 1921 there were sixty moth
ers drawing county aid; jan LIST. 1917
there were fifty-seven mothers draw
1861 for the care Of 1919 children
which allows an average or ABOUT
$7.45 for the support of each child.
The present winter is a hard one on
these families and while the total ex-
penditures seems large, personal visits
have proved that these mothers are
giving their children good care and
every cent of county allowance is
thoughtfully expended.
However, after the hard winter is
over some of these allowance should
be revised and another survey of all
cases made.
Another thing which the Child Well
fare Board is called upon to deal with
is feeble mindedness. We have, had
six cases called to our attention dur
ing the year. Three were investlgat-
ed for the Board Of Control and three
were committed by the Probate Court
to the Board of Control. While there
are numerous other cases of this sort
in the county, it is not our policy to
intervene if the afflicted person is not
a menace to the community and is be-
ing given good care in his home.
Very often we are asked by various
outside agencies to make 1nvestiga-
lions for them. During the past year
we have made the following: County
Attorney, L; Ramsey County Child
Welfare Board, 1 Associated Chari-'
ties, Mpls., 1; Board of Control, 1.
Possible lack of employment may
account for the rather large number
of neglected children we have had to
deal with during the year. 1t was
necessary to ask the Court to take
three children from the mother (di-
vorced) and commit them to the care
of the father. Five were committed
by the Court to the Board Of Controls
and sent to Owatonna.
Six were committed by the Court to
the Sisters at Little Falls. One was
placed in a goood home with the ap-
prevail of the Court. In one case a
grandmother for the support of her
deserted grandchild. In two cases OF
reported neglect investigation proved
that no action was necessary
We have dealt with six cases of
delinquency during the year. One is
now under treatment for venereal in
lection; warrants are out for two for
assault; one is on probation. one re-
turned to Owatonna after breaking
parole regulations and one under the
supervision of the Child Welfare
Board at the request Of her father,
are placed out in his county by or
phan asylums and other agencies
either for adoption. or temporarily: It
Board to ihspect these heines and
make minute and detailed statements
to the Board Of Control for their APP
proval or disapproyal. We have made
ing the year, all of which were APP
proved. There were also five adoption
Investigations all of which Were ap-
proved : I'm three cases OF placement