The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-05-15
SOCIAL WORKERS
CONFERENCE HAS
BIG ATTENDANCE
Redwood Falls Host to Dele
gates From Seventeen South
western Counties.
2O3 DELEGATES HERE.
Attended by Leading AuthOri-
ties in State on Subjects
Pertaining to Welfare.

That considerable interest is being
shown by Southwestern Minnesota
Counties in handling the social pro-
blems which exist in local commune
ties, was evidenced on Friday, May
10th when, in spite of the inclement
weather, 203 interested representa-
tives of seventeen counties registered
for the sessions of the 36th Regional
Conference of Social Work which was
held in Redwood Falls. Redwood as
host county led the list with 73 re-
gistrants, Renville %, Yellow Medi-
cine II, Brown 13, Chippewa 10, Lin
coin 10, Ramsey 10, Mcleod 9, Muir
ray s, Lyon Z, Cottonwood 5, Lac qui
Parle 5, Kandiyohi A, Hennepin A,
Sibley 5, Goodhue 1, st. Louis 1.
The aim of the conference was
to acquaint the public with the diff
ferent methods of handling social
problems, and such phases were dis
cussed not only from the legal, hum
unitarian, and public point of view,
but also from the angle of the fin
ancial cost to a county of handling
its problems intelligently. The theme
of the morning session was poor re-
lief for county dependents. Mr.. c..
F. Hall of the Children's Bureau pre-
sented comparative statement of the
actual cost of such relief in all the
counties participating in the confer
ence. This was followed by dis
cussion of poor relief as administered
in the various counties represented.
At the afternoon session, Miss
Mary Moreland of the American Red
Cross explained the responsibility the
Red Cross has taken and is willing
to undertake further, in the establish
ment of the good social programs in
counties. A point well taken was the
fact that the Red Cross has been an
essential factor in practically every
successful venture in the field of
county, social or nursing work, and
that today the Red Cross stands ready
to cooperate with state and county
agencies in the establishment of such
programs on a sound basis.
What the General Extension Divi-
sion of the University of Minnesota
has to offer adults who cannot leave
home to enter school, but who can
have the opportunity of home study
was ably presented by Mr.. Perry of
the Extension Division. Miss Joanna
Colcord, President of the Minnesota
State Conference of Social Work, ex-
planned the reflection of public wants
in the Regional, State, National and
International Conferences of Social
Work, emphasizing the immensity of
Social Work, and the value of intelli-
gently understanding social needs by
the public.
Mrs. Blanche LaDue, the woman
member of the State Board of Con-
troll, gave an intensely interesting
address on Juvenile Delinquency,
stressing the factors causing delin-
quency, the results of studies made
in correctional institutions of the
state, and what the state is trying
to do to restore normal activities for
these young people. She emphasiz-
ed particularly the need for sound oc-
cupation and wholesome recreation
as preventatives to the delinquency
and urged more care in the charact-
er building of youth.
At the o'clock dinner meeting,
Rev. w. c. Sainsbury of the Central
Park Methodist church in ST. Panl,
closed the days sessions with a dis
course ON "Our Heath" Speaking
on the valuable contribution science
has made to good health, Rev. Sains-
bury charged every individual with
the responsibility, not only with the
of sickness in individual
and family cases, but also for the pre-
vention of communicable diseases in
the entire community as the only way
to decrease mortality.
Much of the success of the Con-
ference was due to the efforts of
local people on the various commit
tees, who furnished the music and
other activities so essential to the
comfort and entertainment of the
guests. It is to these people that
the Conference extends grateful ap-
probation.