New Britain herald., 1930-04-10

VeStigation 10 honestly get at the
 facts: then after an interpretation
 of these facts. to recognize the cause
 and treat accordingly so as to re-
 move the problems and return the
 family to a normal life.
 Appeals from Many Sources
 Appeals come from churches, friends relatives in and out of town.
 public officials, private societies, in-
 terested individuals, or by direct per l sonal application. As a member of
 the United Community corporation 1 the Welfare association is one of
 several social agencies deriving a
 limited support from a common l treasury. Appeals which, after due | investigation, can be more properly | cared for by other organizations in 1 the United Community corporation, 1 arc referred to them, or to city or | fly work the Welfare association is | the recognized organization serving | the city of New Britain.
 | As a last resort. when all means | toward fostering q normal. or near | ly normal home life, have failed a 1 family sometimes has to be broken | up, never for a reason of poverty l alone, but when a parent is beyond
 a doubt morally and mentally unfit
 to such d point of incapabilty of | bringing up the children, when re- | peated readmstng. the best of ad- l l., l suits, the children must have a
 chance somewhere. Perhaps only
 while one or the other parent is re-
 celVing custodial care, mental or
 physical treatmen or is removed permanently. Then, by means of
 authorities working wholly for the
 childrens good, temporary or per
 manent homes arc provided.
 l Among the 173S applicants there have been actually presented for so- lution the following problems: unem- ploymcnt. underemployment, physi-
 cal ailments. mental handicaps, be- hayior problems, assault, non sup
 port. bad housing. adult delinquency.
 alcoh olism, inadequate parental care, unmarried mothers, poor housekeep- ing. social disease, irregular school
 attendance, personal maladjustment, dependent attitude, maternity.
 Tn the service administered to
 these scores of applicants by trained Fworkers there has been an oppor-
 tunity to provide. or obtain through
 community resources the following
 relief: physicians services. city phy-
 sician's services, dental care. psychi-
 atric examination, general health eX- animation, special clinic examination,
 social disease examination, nursing
 service, cooperation of probation of
 ficers, cooperation of other agencies,
 debts paid, tonsillectomies, removal
 to better quarters. hospital care, per i manent or temporary employment,
 board of children, optical care, bet
 ter recreational facilities, prenatal
 and post-natal care, convalescent
 care, adjustment in schools, better
 housing conditions through the
 Board Of Health, adjustments in
 family groups, family relationships
 improved, improvement of present quarters, increase in wages. and among the homes and in the interest
 of the families the workers made
 2553 calls.
 The sum of 3577.o5 in material
 relief was furnished to 120 families.
 In addition to this s3S6.l6 was spent
 strictly for holiday cheer from funds donated solely for the purpose.
 However, the giving of mony, food, clothing, etc. cannot alone solve the
 complicated human problems that
 are constantly arising. AS a tempor-
 ary solution relief giving fills only an immediate need. Time is necessary | for the forming and working out of
 a plan to assist the family back to
 self support. Relief does not branch 1 the gap of a break in family rela tions; it does not cure immortality or feeble mindedness. New clothes may again reshape themselves to a shift 1 less figure. The service relief given | by trained and understanding work 1 CTS is the only way to meet the | true needs of the family, the only sure way to a restablished, normal home life. A wise expenditure of the
 communitys funds entrusted to the | care of the Welfare Association so 1 that constructive service may be pro- vided, is the main concern of the l Welfare Associations staff and board of directors. The public's money in- vested in the Welfare Association is | spent SO that those without the nc
 cessities of life may have the oppor- | tunity of requiring them. The amount of money spent for personal | service relief to the unfortunate oft en exceeds the amount spent for ma l torial substance. The Welfare Asso- ciation's need is more money so that more work and better work can be done for New Britain. A family wei | fare staff of three persons, one exec
 utive. one case work and one office assistant, for city of over S0,000. can do more work and better work when assisted by a visiting house. keeper and a psychiatrist. If the work is to improve and grow the money must increase.
 49 Widows Get Relief
 Tn conjunction with the welfare of all families referred by various individuals organizations, and others interested, the Welfare Association | supcryiscs the children Of widows re- ceiving weekly allowances from the department of state aid 10 widows There are on the average of 49 of these widows with children under lG years Of age who are visited al least once every month, or as often as necessity requires. Matters of nu- triton, health, recreation, habits, school and church interests, etc, arc points for conference between the . widowed mother and the social ! workers. These contacts are in most cases greatly appreciated by the