The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-29

long way since lVZV WltH TcBuTu " the care of the dependent. neglect cd, defective and delinquent chil- drcn of the state." according to the report of tho commission on child welfare which will submit its rec concentrations to the incoming general assembly in January. 'Thc general problems of child welfare. however, have remained much the same as they were twelve years ago. The opportunity now clearly presents itself to develop and strengthen tho system built up in years past. by changing or extend ing 1t at various strategic points. At certain points. the needs of do- ing 50 is urgent and Imperative"
 During the eighteen months since the creation of the commission. au- thorized by the legislature of 1891. it's members have been engaged In studying conditions, laws and methods of administration of child welfare in Connecticut and other states, with q view to recommend ing to the general assembly of 193a such changes In the child welfare laws as they consider advisable.
 Tho members of the commission arc the following: Chairman, John tho state board of finance: first nor Samuel R. Spencer; second vice president. Mrs Herbert Knox Smith; secretary, Mrs Herbert r. Fisher: Mrs Rosemary Anderson; Paul Butterworth; Nehemiah Can AasAx nR tsA Atf s.k S.l walk: Miss Mnrjory Cheney. former member of tho general assembly; Maurice R. Davic, professor of so- cioiogy at Yale; Miss Eleanor Fer guson; Raymond r. Gates. state agent of state agencies and institu- tions; Samuel II. Graham, chair man Hartford county commission CTS; Rev Matthew J. Judge, direc- tor of the Diocesan Bureau of So- cial Service: James T. Moran. member of the department of pub lie welfare; Robbins B. stoeckel. commissioner of motor vehicles; Mrs Percy T. Walden. president of tho Connecticut Child Welfare as- sociation. The executive secretary is Raymond q. Fuller.
 The commission has focused its attention upon the groups of chil- dren generally described as handi- capped---the boys and girls who arc dependent, neglected. delinquent. or suffcring from physical or mental defects. It has mado special studies of county homes. the care of children under four years of age by the town selectmen, Juvenile and delinquency. tho care and training of mentally defective and feeble c-mindcd children. and the op- portunities for care of the physlcal- iy handicapped. Tho forthcoming report of tho commission includes surveys of these subjects and also special studies made by other state departments: fire risks in county homcs, by tho commissioner of state police: health standards in county homes by the state dopart- mont of health: county home schools, by tho division of special education of tho board of educa- ton; and other reports having Q bearing upon tho main topics of study.
 Tho commission emphasizes at moro than one place in its report the dcsirability of avoiding institu- tionai care. Wherever possible it would have probation substituted for commitment to correctional in- stitutions, community supervision for tho feebie- minded for institu- tional care, and placing of neglect cd children in foster homes instead Of in institutions. In particular the commission strongly favors q more energetic policy of placing children out from the county homos in pri- yato family homes. We recom- mend, as an immediate objective" the report states, "that tho plac- ing-out of children from tho eoun- ty homes be increased at least to tho extent of keeping the c0uAty homo population down to 30 DOT cent of capacity and the average length of stay to not over one year"
 Neglected. children under six years of axe will be committed to tho bureau of child welfare, # the recommendation of tho commission with regard to these children is followed. Tho expense of care would be borne seven-tonths by the statc and three-tenths by tho town of settlement. Children under four are now the responsibility of tho selectmen In the diffcrent towns. and chiidren over four the joint responsibility of the county and stato. "The tripie diviaion of au- thority and responsibility among state, counties and towns" says tho report, results In many confusions and conflicts both of social work policy and of administrative prac- ticefl and in ovcrleppings and 0mia- sions Of actual service to children needing or receiving public care. Connecticut ia the only state with such c division of responsibility Tho scicctmen, burdened as they are with other duties. can hardly give the timc and attention re. niiirnd tn inxeatlgAte, ninn and