The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-31
WELFAREBOARD PLANNING
CHILD EXTENSION WORK
Attention Will Be Given To iii,
UndernOurished and Problem
Children of the County
MANY HOME VISITS MADE

The Garrett County Welfare Board,
during the past four months, has been
forced to give first thought to the re-
lief of actual restitution among needy
families of the county, but the welfs
of individual children in such homes
and also in homes where unemploy
ment is not the major social problem
has had a large part in the general
county program.
One of the best remembered and
most vital observations of Phillips
Brooks related to the value of chill
dren; "The future of the race marches
forward on the feet of little children"
and any thoughtful person will con-
cede that children are the largest
single asset of the State. Much has
been said and written about the eff
fects Of the present depression on
children and one State Department of
Welfare admits that the unfavorable
effects are yet too intangible to be re-
duced to statistics, however, that dis
quieting trends have been noted in re-
ports that have been received at some
State Headquarters. 1t has been noted
in many states that correction of
physical defects has almost come to a
stand still; also that institutional
CT &c oil
static, being blocked at the top by
older children, who, since there are no
jobs available, must be kept on thus
barring younger children in need of
care Adaptive and free foster homes
are less numerous except those which
frankly want to board children for the
money there is in it.
One pediatrician in neigh!boring
state recently said, in discussing the
relationship between proper food and
the growing child, "Stunting of mind
as we'll as of body will follow when
children are forced to live on an in
adequate diet" Lack of milk, meat,
fresh fruit and vegetables must result
in great deficiency for sound
growth The bones in growing chill
dren will remain small, become por-
Gus, fragile and will break easily and
the bodies will become understood and
misshapen. Special disaster is threat
ened girls in the child-bearing years
ahead. Certain lack of food values
hampers learning ability and mental
development. Some food deficiencies
actually produce mental retardation
which is the most important single
cause of delinquency. Lack of other
food elements often cause serious eye
diseases which may result in blind
ness. No amount of good food later
can undo the damage wrought during
the growing years.
The Garrett County Welfare Board
is planning to do intensive work with
children during the fall and winter
months now that the relief program
is we'll set up and functioning salts
factorily and special attention will be
given to the needs of individual chill
dren throughout the county. The
family visitors in the field are being
asked to report all cases of ill, under
nourished and problem children. 1t
has been necessary to remove one de-
linquent and one feeble-minded child
from their homes to state institutions.
In another case, an emergency opera
ton was performed. During the last
three weeks GAG home visits were
made by the field staff. A special
educational campaign is being planned
to be inaugurated shortly by the Gar
rett County Welfare Board so that
the public may be kept informed
about the general welfare of the
children Of the county.