New Britain herald., 1928-03-08
WELFARE SERVICE
 ACTIVE IN WINTER
Demands for Relief Increase, Ac,
 cording to Miss Beale

Miss Cora NJ. Beale. executive sec retary of the Welfare association, has prepared her report for Docem- Der, January and February and has presented it to the directors. The report reads as follows:
 Present industrial and economic conditions have been of course the outstanding problems confronting the Welfare association during the past three months. Whereas a year ago during the winter months, there were 15 families being aided because Of unemployment. during December, January and February Of this winter there are 35 families who are know n 10 the Welfare association for no reason except unemployment or un- Unemployment. It has been in most cases practically impossible to ind employment opportunities for the men, who, though idle, are quite it and willing 10 work and support their own families. and there seems 10 be no solution in sight to help solve the problem.
 "The constant effort of the Vel fare association is family welfare. meeting the many problems that arise so that nowadays there enters into the plan of rehabilitation not the one problem only Of relief or charity but various ones such as the industrial and economic sItna- ion, physical disability, mental and behavior problems, domestic and so- cial relations. etc.-each family us ually presenting several for solution. The public thinks of a welfare work CT going into home to give bas- ket of groceries. The visitor trained case worker, never knows what kind of service may be need ed when she goes into that home. Poverty and hunger are often lndi- cators of more deeply seated trouble. The hungry ones are given a nofr- ishing meal. Suppose the social worker stopped there. Father must have a job. Mother is discouraged and dovnhearted, she needs encour- a9ement,-maybe help in not only planning a better home but an ac- tual boost to get into a more ad- visable one where the sun shines ana the cellar is dry, (yes. perhaps In more ways than one.) The mother needs sympathy, education along health lines, actual demonstration ot improvement in the behavior prop lem of the children, responding 10 improved home surroundings II there is a lack of all facilities toward making a home attractive, Nho Is to blame for the outcome?
 .The Welfare association responds promptly to a new appeal for assist ance. It believes service 10 De lls biggest work-it gives relief while working out it's plans which include thorough investigation ot nome and family conditions. It tries to be sympathetic and friendly, far ana lust in decisions which must oceas- ionally be otherwise than the fa1h- i,y desires. Sometimes the decision as 10 wise plan is quite dlllereh' from what the casual observer eA- poets.
 .'The Welfare association vel comes constructive criticism ana Is glad to explain the why's and "here- .ores. Ii one member Of a fanlli! receiving aid sports 8. fur coat tlt may be a made over one, ten years old) naturally questions arise III ID" obseryer's mind. When an auto IS marked in the back yard impure frankly If the Welfare association has looked up the registration ana ownership. When q shut-in mother has a radio is it an asset or llapll- ityo Was 1t perchance sllt or t'i' result of some lads ingenuity III building? Should the care-"ofi T mother bend her back over the oia fashioned wash tub if in more pros nerors times a washing machine was purchased and paid for? tluesuohH do arise and critics are 4nlch 'o f,np at conclusions. Come ana aS'' about it or report conditions founa.
 "Durlng these winter months when he wor, of the Welfare associalioN mas increased so markedly, StaH ol .hree has found 1t practically lmpoS- sih]e 10 cover all Investigations eAlIa nome visits visits to relatives cilS officials. etc, as we'll as interNle"lhI clients at the office. A group oi earnest women, representing Ndl1oHf churches. has offered themselves TOT any volunteer work of service, as re- aunsted This has been ot efta' value and has meant that hapE whose mother was too i'll 10 care lo' him. was taken to boarding Hoile and later the mother was gwen III auto ride 70 the nearby city "ilef' she was happy and satisfied to sec har lovely hahv receiving the best oi care. A little glri needing an exam nation by an out of town sPe'!aiiSl has been taken back and foT'h, ana nnallv 70 d hospital for con'inne' treatment Such service requires much -ime-valuable time when de- duc,ed from q busy day. The Wei fare association appreciates thlS a'' sire 10 help, and the loving serFi'' rendered by those sincerely interest ea.
 Naturally in a city of oHr Siz' fl takes but a short time aihp'l- nationality or noighhorly groups t' learn of a chance 10 grt som"'hlf= when hard up, not only from 'i' organization but from all in" sef oral az. ncies who have private "' public funds and are giving r"i" this winter. Especially JH1' he' wben number are in need an. are asking for help either dIr"ct' or by being reported through friends churches, schools. .tc., to the 'af- o4s agencies ia town, it is vory eS sanual that such agencies work '" ea-ncr. The Social Service E%chanE' (Ii.srrCr sqr1Ngt.4 ft-