Evening star., 1924-09-15
CHILD GUARDIANS
ASK LARGER STAFF
Case Workers Now Handling
More Wards Than Should,
. Board Reports.

The number of case workers on the
staff of the Board of Children's
Guardians should be doubled in order
to give proper supervision TO the
boys and girls who have become pub
lie wards in the District, w. w. Mil
Ian, president of the board, told
the commissioners in his annual re-
port today.
Although so children is regarded by
experts as the maximum number one
worker should be responsible for, the
report shows that each supervisor on
the staff of the Board of Guardians
must watch over from twice to three
time that many waits.
Under such circumstances can the
highest standards of work be expect
ed from our overbnrdened workers."
the board asks in it's statement to the
city heads. To subordinate the well
fare of the child to the conservation
of few dollars is false economy OF
the most unfortunate type the re-
port states in summarizing the need
fpr larger personnel.
Approves Central Board.
Srhe Board of Guardians renews its
Endorsement of the bill now pending
in Congress for the merger of all
existing public welfare organizations
into department of public welfare
under the commissioners. lndorse-
ment also Is given the pioposeo
mothers pension bill.
The board recommends that the IN
6ustrial Home School on Wisconsin
avenue, used as a temporary recelv-
ing home for wards pending their
placement in foster homes. be SOLD
and that a SMALL centrally located
building be equipped as receiving
home, with a capacity for the care
of from 80 to 40 new commitments
month for DpriOd averaging three
weeks.
There also is need. the board states,
for facilities for the modern institu-
tional care of about 50 white chli-
dren, where delinquent tendencies
could be corrected and the child htted
for normal home life.
Foster Homes Favored.
In explaining the need for such
place, the board goes on:
ITO place Immediately a really de-
linquent boy or girl of Is, who has
failed after a term of probation, in
a foster home is carrying a modern
principle to an illogical extremity
At the present time We have no
methed Of caring for the white delln-
ouent, committed for short time,
except placing him in the Industrial
Home School, which we must also
use as a receiving home. This is
most regrettable situation.
The board lays emphasis IN the re-
port on two of it's outstanding prln-
cipleS of operation: First, that II mas
always been committed to the pohcy
Of foster home care for dependent
and neglected children. and. secondly,
that children are only taken from
their own homes after all efforts to
rehabilitate the home have failed.
Few in Institutions.
.1-h, praeant placement of all our
wards shows less than IA per cent in
institutions which is worthy of notice
in view of the fact that nearly half OF
all children coming under our care
are committed because of repeated
delinquencies, after every method OF
intelligent probation in their own
homes has failed.
with this ever in mind it has been
necessary in the 755 cases investi-
gated. involving 1.439 children, to
recommend the removal of the chill
dren from the home in only 8S cases.
involving 148 children. Four hundred
and fifty-siX cases were adjusted by
our own workers, 153 referred after
investigation to private organizations
for relief and family welfare work
and So were pending at the close OF
the year.
mo child is or should be taken from
its home because of poverty, and
wherever there is chance to raise
the standards of the home without
removing the child therefrom every
effort is made to do so, regardless of
parental delinquencies and home de-
fectS."
Police Contact Opposed.
The board takes occasion in its re-
port to oppose a suggestion that the
work Of it's investigation department