The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-04-11

as they are to meet the overhead
of running expenses of the bureau.
we have, by keeping the expenses
at the minimum without however
sacrificing efficiency been able to
turn the surplus of the assessments
into the funds for relief. We are
indebted to the Council of Catho-
| lie Women for the sum of $1,9S5,
as stated above the same represent
ing membership dues and sums
realized from various entertain
ments, card parties, sales and var
ious undertakings.
| For the reimbursement or re-
funds, which enabled us to do the
! greatest amount Of our relief work
we are obligated to the Society OF
st Vincent de Paul Of the Imma-
| culate Conception church, to the
| Italian Aid society, to the depart
| ment of public charities and to the
/ Mutual Aid Unemployment Fund,
Inc. For contribution from sever
al charitable persons and societies
who contributed the sum of over
$500 we owe our heartfelt thanks
and appreciation.
"In disbursing these monies we
have. for personal service to our
clients expended $3,250. 1t cost
us $3.50 to maintain our share, of
the office. In the care of our chill
dren we used $11,359 which was
about 1000 over and above the
amount received from relatives ana
others for the children's broad.
Relieving Distress Costly.
"In relieving of distress in fami-'
lies we made our largest single ex-
penditure, $10,565. Divided into its
different items we have the fol-
lowing: $3,685 for food; $2,356 for
rents; $3.50 for fuel; 1856 for shoes
$1,340 for new colthing; 1929 for
milk; 1919 for hospital treatment
and the balance of about $1,500
for miscellaneous items.
I'm the work involved in the
expenditure of these funds our So
cial workers came in contact with
415 families representing over l.
800 individuals: 2,326 visits to the
homes were made; along with l.
796 office interviews. There were
over 1900 telephone conversations
and the correspondence entailed
1926 letters.
+ THE causes leading up to the
volume of this work was in the
main, of course, unemployment or
underemployment; physical or
mental illness: desertion; widows
with children and old age in fam
lily cases.
"In definite children's cases the
trouble was founded on neglect.
dependency, desertion, intemper-
ance, illegitimacy.
Through the interest of Water
bury hospital, st Mary's hospital.
Chase Dispensary. st Mary's Dis
pensary, the v. N. A., the Anti
tuberculosis league, the city ply
stefan and several other physicians,
medical care was provided in 1872
cases. Twenty-three mental exam
nations were given by the Water
bury Mental Hygiene clinic and
dental treatment was provided at
st Mary's dispensary, for 20 chill
dren.
Recreation opportunities were
provided in the case of % families
involving 100 children which in
cluded enrolment in Girl and Boy
Scout troops; summer vacations,
tickets for concerts and plays,
books and magazines for shut-ins,
etc.
Through the interests of the
worker nine baptisms. which had
been delayed, were arranged.
Eleven children beyond the usual
age were enrolled in first Com
munion classes and one marriage
was validated.
/. An average of SIS children
Were visited semi-annually at our
diocesan institutions including st
Agnes home, Hartford; st Francis
orphan asylum, New Haven; st
Johns school. Deep River: the
Italian orphanage, New Haven; the
Polish orphanage, New Britain,
and the Lithuanian orphanage.
this city. During a child's place.
ment In an institution intensive
casework Is done with the parents.
II living, or with the relatives with
view of lettering conditions and
removing the causes Of the child's
placement out Of the home. Super.
vision is continued after the chiId's
return for a period of one year. or
longer II necessary. Twenty-Five
children In boarding homes and 30
In free or adoption homes were
visited monthly and quarterly re-
spectively. Careful routine physi-
cal examinations were given each
child throughout tho year.
Cooperate With Others
'sThe bureau has worked In close
cooperation with the other well
fare agencies In the field: tho Lin-