The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-05-14
CounlyConfI onte0
by Real Problems
CHILD WELFARE BOARD MUST
FIND HOMES FOR GIRL
MOTHERS.

Inc regular monthly meeting O1
the Child Welfare Board was held in
the Court House on Thursday after
noon. Mrs. A. j. Praxel of Lamber-
ton, who is filling the place on the
board left vacant by the resignation
of Mrs. Clark, and Mr.. H. B. West of
Morgan were the out-of-town mem
bers present. Perplexing problems
occupied the Board for over an hour
and half
The report Of the Executive Secre-
tary showed that April has been a
executive secretary of the Board and
County Red Cross worked on 80 cases,
Ga of which were civilian and the rest
disabled ex-service men or their de-
pendents. 33 home calls were made
285 interviews had and IT'S letters,
records and affdavits sent. AS near
ly as the secretary can figure with
out the assistance of the speedometer
1873 miles were travelled. The secre-
tary reported that three young men
who had been assisted to sanatariums
had reported that they were gaining
rapidly, one has gained so pounds,
another 20 pounds and the third has
just began to gain and is hopeful of
recovery.
At the last meeting of the board
the question was discussed as to what
had best be done for the unmarried
mothers being sent back to this coun-
ty from city homes where they have
received care. Judges and Child We'll
fare Boards in the Twin Cities have
been obliged to carry into effect new
rulings obliging every girl and her
child to return to the county from
which she came to the Cities. This
places very difficult problem where
it belongs-with the counties in which
the girl becomes delinquent.
Most of these girls want to keep
their children by boarding them out
or by securing places where they can
work and keen their children with
them. Such opportunities for girls
are hard to find in small rural COM
munities. The wages are so small
that mother really cannot assume
the whole burden of boarding the
child since the least a boarding home
can be secured for is $500 per week
and this is the average wage of a girl
doing homework. In many cases the
parents are unwilling and unable to
help.
In every case the man is followed
up, warrant sworn out, and the
sheriff instructed to arrest him.
However our laws are such that in
case the girl is of age we cannot go
outside the state to get the man and
so support in most instances is not
Forthcoming from the father of the
child
1t would seem nearly an impossible
situation but fortunately there are
people in our county who have the
love of little children so firmly i'm
planted in their hearts that an appeal
brings results. The secretary report
ed that during the month it was neces-
sary to find home for a child board
could not be guaranteed. 1t was i'm
possible for the girl to return to her
fathers home; the father of the child
had evaded responsibility by leaving
the state; the girl wants to keep her
child; the girl must return to her
home county and the problem as to
what to do weighed heavily on the
Board. The secretary approached a
mother with a family grown and ex-
planned the situation to her and with
out moments hesitation she replied,
Bring the baby to me. | will take
care of it for the girl"
Such a helpful christian spirit about
saved the life of the worker. There
are other girls who are to return and
the board would appreciate it if any
one who would be willing to help out,
if only temporarily. by boarding one
of these babies or by hiring the girl
with her child. would communicate
with the executive secretary at the
court house.-Executive Secretary of
Child Welfare Board.