Evening star., 1926-11-09
STUART CR|T|C|zES
JUVENILE SYSTEM
Welfare Chief Tells Social
Council Present Plan
Works Backward.

A reversal OF the present system OF
handling juvenile delinquents and un-
fortunates in order that their cases
may be thoroughly investigated before
being taken to the courts was advo-
Gated by James E. Stuart. supervisor
of the child welfare department Of the
District Of Columbia Board Of Public
Welfare, before the Washington Coun-
Gil Of Social Agencies in the Burling-
ton Hotel yesterday.
Mr.. Stuart advocated an adequate
staff, both in numbers and in the
character Of personnel. for the child
welfare department of the Public
Welfare Board to carry on the pro-
posed Investigations. This. he said,
would mean an increase in the stan
from 20, its present number, to 81
persons.
Previous investigat ton Of many Of
the cases before they are taken to
court, Mr.. Stuart stated, would not
only prevent needless separations Of
children from their parents, but in
many cases would result in the re-
Mobilization of the home.
System Held Wrong.
Under the present system, he said,
the children and their parents are
hailed into court, and after the chill
dren are turned over to the welfare
department an investigation is made
to determine if the parents can and
will properly care for them. Such
system" he said, means working
backward"
At the same time Mr.. Stuart en-
phasized that his department is un-
able to remedy matters much with its
present alleged inadequate staff,
which. he explains, has to handle on
the average 1853 cases a day. Most
of them, he explained. are those car
ried over from one day to the next.
He added, however, that the number
is increasing from year to year. Dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80, 1925,
there We're 564 cases committed to the
care Of the department and only
about $50 are due to be dropped dur
ing the next year. he said.
Mr. Stuart deplored the fact that
cases have to be aired in court, caus-
ing children to listen to all kinds OF
testimony against their parents. Then,
he said, there is usually an emotional
scene of departure as the child is led
away by strange hands and taken in
to be given a physical examination.
which he fears because he does not
know what it is about There Is no
one around the Office where the child
Is taken that has time TO reaSSure
him, continued Mr. Stuart. He also
criticized the frequent transfer Of chill.
dren from one foster home to another.
Chord Urges Relief.
Following the address. Walter S.
Ufford Of the Associated Charities told
the council that the speakers address
served to remind the people that
there is no regular juvenile court in
the District as the term is generally
understood" and urged the body to
work for more modern methods for
dealing with children.
Statistics on child welfare work in
various communities during the year
1923 were given in an address by Miss
Agnes X. Hanna, director of the
Social Service Department Of the
United States Children's Bureau. She
stated that the defunct local Board of
Children's Guardians in that year
handled about LOO children, as COM
pared with only $50 handled by ST.
Louis. a city much larger than Wash.
ington, during the same year.
Arthur G. Moses. president Of the
council, presided.