Evening star., 1937-08-11
Children
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meeting the Federal requirements, but
that a District program finally was
approved by the Children's Bureau in
June of last year. But then some
members of the board wanted it re-
Vlsed slightly, delaying its actual oper-
alton.
During the Summer it was difficult
for the board members to get together
for final action" Kirby recalled, "and
1t was September before a new plan
was authorized. Then we had to get
the Commissioners approval and sub
NIT It to the Children's Bureau, going
through all the machinery again"
Late in November of last year the
second plan finally was approved by
the Children's Bureau. Then came the
task OF setting up the machinery to
get 1t going. Job classifications had
TO be approved by the local Personnel
Board, the Commissioners and the Civil
Service Commission before anybody
could be hired for the crippled chill
dren's work
Before the organization was set up
there came plans early this year for
transferring the appropriations for the
hospitals from the Public Welfare
Board to the Health Department. and
this threw another snag into the Grip
pied children's program.
Marked Time in Uncertainty.
Ihere was no use trying to start
the work." Kirby said, with another
change in the offiing, 50 we marked
time until the uncertainty was re-
moved. We could not hire qualified
persons for the work with no assur-
ance of security in their jobs. We did
transfer girl in another position here
TO be director of the new program and
She laid some of the groundwork. but
could go little further
transfer of the hospital appropria-
lions to the Health Department finally
was voted by Congress in passing the
current District appropriations act on
June 29 OF this year. And on july
the crippled childrens program went
back to the Health Department. which
must again go through all the ma
chlnery of working out a detailed
plan and getting it approved bv the
commissioners and the Children,s
Bureau.
Under the approved programs that
never actually got under way, the
District was paid a total of s6,250 in
Feoeral grants. Most of this sum re-
mains as cash balance toward
launching the projected new plan, Dr.
Seckinger said.
DR.. Seckinger said he hoped the
program would be ready for operation
within month or six weeks A
clinic Tor crippled children probably
VIII be established at Gallineer Hos
patal, he said, where facilities for
0tnopedic treatment already are
available. The physio- -therapy pro-
gram at Weightman School probably
VIII be expanded, he added, and a
stan OF medical-social workers en-
poyed for following through the
treatments in the homes of the chill
dren.
Existing Agencies Used.
Ihe program will be tied up with
IA exlstlng agencies for the care of
crippled children" DR.. Seckinger en-
phasized. Our object is not to re-
place, but to supplement the work
that already is being done"
Under the social security act the
program must include locating Grim
pied children and providing for med
1cal surgical, corrective and other
services and care, and facilities for
diagnosis, disqualification, and after
care for children who are crippled or
who are suffering from conditions
which lead to Gripping"
The Children's Bureau explains that
the aim lis to give every crippled child
IN need of care such services as will
enable him to be put in the best
possible physical condition and will
help him find his place for service in
the worlds work"
The bureau estimates that about
81 years old are crippled. OF each
100 crippled children, approximately
"a were born that way, IL had acci-
dents, 10 had improper food or in
adequate sunlight when they were
babies, and SIS were crippled as a
result of disease. Three out of ten
were crippled by infantile paralysis.
A total of $2,679, 1886 in Federal
grants has been distributed to the IS
States cooperating in the program,
according to the last report, on June I.