The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-06
RECREATION
HELD FOE OF
DELINQUENCY
Social Worker for County and
City Details Work Done in
The Past Year


Well supervised recreation facil-
tiles are urged by Miss Elsie IL.
Lawrence, social worker for the Red
Cross, Burlcigh county and the city
OF Bismarck, as means OF reducing
. Juvenile delinquency. In report
covering more than years period,
Miss Lawrence detailed to the city
commission the work of the social
worker during the time and conclu-
sions drawn from experience.
Describing the work of the Red
Cross in connection with soldier aid
case she says:
During the year of 1922 and
1923, from Feb. Is to March l, there
were 31S social cases passed through
the Red Cross office, lS of which are
still active. This work included
problems Of the widow, DESERVING
husband and sniftless men, as well
as the work with transicnts and de-
pendent, neglected and delinquent
children. The soldier cases were
transferred from the box folders to
Il direct filing system and in this
way it was found that over 700 cases
have been cared for by the Burlcigh
county American Red Cross. At the
present time % cases are active.
Mandan has discontinued its soldier
work, and is paying the Bismarck
Office $40 per month for looking after
IA dozen active cases. Since the Vet
Grams Bureau reports that there are
60 men needing assistance in filing
their claims, in Morton county, we
nope to increase the number of &C
tice claims, as the compensation will
be commensurate with the amount
Of work done"
- Although it is general opinion
that the war work is done, the claims
which have been successfully prose
cuted by this office show that we
still have a big work in caring for
our disabled men," the report con-
tinues.
T The claims adjusted during the
year showed 10 compensation claims,
averaging from 500 to $500; eight
active 7. B cases obtained hospital
ization and back compensation; II
men assisted in securing vocational
training, seven are receiving treat
ment without compensation for dis
abilities which they received in serv-
ice; eight men have secured dental
treatment through tne local office. A
total Of as claims were adjusted.
Work continues on 90 claims.
Quoting from a letter from sol
der the report says II wish here to
again commend the splendid work of
Mrs. f. l.. Conklln, who has donated
her entire time to tne soldier work"
There are 40 widows in Burleigh
county receiving Mothers Pensions,
the average of which is $35 per
month.
81 should like to recommend
close supervision of the eXpendi
lures of these pensions to ascertain
if the mothers are buying sufficient
food md the children getting proper
nourishment," says Miss Lawrence.
Standard budgets should be worked |
out with the mothers and help given
In their homes so that they may be-
come efficient housekeepers."
City relief is given to 10 families,
the report continues, most of whom |
IRE men and women wno are too old |
IN incapacltated for work. The poor |
elief for the year Sept. l, 1921 to !
Sept. l, 1922, averaged $535.49 |
monthly, while from Sept. l, 1922 to
Jan. l, 1928, the average was $394.45. |
This included the greater part of |
he period when the most relief is |
,1eeded, since coal is supplied after
September /.
: During the past year the social |
yorker interviewed and advised 1913
dependent delinquents, or defective
children, which the report lists as
follows: Unmarried mothers, ID;
delinquent girls, 80; dependent Gail
dren, AZ; girls returned home, g;
crippled children, G.; feeble minded,
. Comfy one admitted to Grafton in
stltution, mutes 4, blind /. Three
Of the unmarried mothers were sent
to the Florence Crittendon home, two
were married and two are receiving
support for their babies.
II believe that the only way that
we can prevent delinquency is to
hope to have adequate recreational
facilities for young people and hope
that during the coming summer play
grounds will be maintained with ade-
lnate supervision" says Miss Law
renee. Jane Adams says play
ground without supervision is the
workshop of the, devil, so we would
got recommend Fairgrounds unless
shey could be under the supervision
# recreational director. The" sum-