Evening journal., 1922-12-16
TEN YEARS, WORK FOR CHILDREN

NTUCH that is of interest Delaware parents II
found in the review of years progress in pub
lie provision for the children summarized BY
Grace Abbott Chief OF the Federal chldrens Bureau
in the tenth annual report chief the Secretary
OF Labor. made public today.
Since 1912 when the Children's Bureau was estsb-
iished. the number OF States having special divisions
dealing with child health has increased from one to
fortysix the number providing mothers pensions has
increased two forty than half the States
have commissions to make comprehensive In
quIries with to bringing their child welfare legs
ation and administrator up to standard, and SIMILAR
number have organized divisions deal
ing especially with dependent and delinquent children
Birth registration adequate form has been ex-
tended including &C cent of the popu-
laton and forty-two States cooperating with
the Federal reduce the unnecessary loss
OF life among mothers babies which the regstrs-
ton figures have shown There has been increasing
appreciation the Importance OF linking State and
local child welfare administration Miss Abbott declares
and profession is giving consideration
to the social and economic aspects OF child health
while social workers have learned the importance OF
physical diagnosis determining social treatment
The Chlldren's Bureau does not claim responsibility |
for these changes report It. however can
be said that its Investigations furnished the facts on
which action frequently based, and because OF the
cooperation OF experts in child welfare public and pr
chlid-carIng agencies women's organizations
OF the important of child Miss
Abbott pays tribute Julia c. Lsthrop whom she
ceeded chief OF the bureau just after the preparation
OF report declaring under her d.
rection tho practical value OF scientific research and
educational the field child estab
lished.
ITO what extent It will be enabled to expand to
opportunities for service" she continues rs question
OF public policy involving decsion TO the relative
Importance OF children and their welfare compared
with other objects Of national expenditure"
The Ohildren's Bureaus appropriation, Miss
Abbott states, will enable It to meet only small per
cent the opportunities offered II for substantial
tributon the welfare of children IL
The admirable work Of the bureaus tenth year. as
described the report included studies OF the unem
ployment situation its effect children; completion
IF Chdrens Year Survey" in Porto Rico; coopera IL
ion with the children's code commission of North
Dakota studying child labor that State particu
arly the farms and with both this commission and
similar body in South Dakota in surveying child de-
tendency and delinquency study OF for dependent
children In the District OF Columbia and OF the admins
ration of aid to children in their homes-or d
nothers pensions in various States arranging
erences special phases mothers pension
ration and emplOyme certificate issuance; studies
organized methods for the welfare OF
ren in their transition from school work including
ocatonal guidance studies OF the work OF mothers and
hildren truck farms Maryland New Jersey and :
Virginia; publication OF thrty-seven reports
cts and administration OF the maternity infancy
ct passed November %, 1921. The report includes
discussion of the situation by the decision Of the
United states Supreme Court May holding child
abor tax law unconstitutional la
In reporting the administration OF the maternity
md infancy Miss Abbott says that funds which
apportoned TO the States for the year ending
1929. did not become available until April but that
payments have been ory-one of the forty-two
states accepting the act and that by various
states is under way. THE widespread discussion OF
he act has already done acquaint women and
with the importance for mothers
nd babies she declares. and points that the ma
ernal mortality for 1920 in the United States birth
egistraton area the highest among all nations for
which recent statistics available 81
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