The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-21

Home Commission for, with the closing of the year, the commission as such, will no longer function and the cases necessarily retained will be cared for under division of the Department of Public Welfare. When the Children's Home Com mission was founded in 1919, the idea was to purchase home where children might be placed for tenn poroary care. However, at just this same time the boarding home plan was evolving and this was put into practice in Waterbury. Since then, some 1870 cases involving children from financially or emotionally de- pendent homes have been brought to the attention of the Children's Home Commission.
 From 1919 until 1886 these chil- dren were cared for by the Chil- dren's Home Commission and the City of Waterbury was financially responsible for the cost of entire care. In 1886 began the process of committing to the care of the Coun- ty or the State those children who were physically and mentally nor- mal-a plan followed by every oth- CT Connecticut town and city. This has been a gradual process involving much detail work with the family, the child and the home.
 58 In Homes
 During 1888 the Children'S Home Commission had under care 58 chil- dren in boarding homes-under su- pervision all children boarding through the Department of Public Welfare. Of these 57 have been committed to the Countay-34 t. the New Haven County Home and 23 to the Commissioner of Welfare. Of the 34 committed to the New Haven County Home, 13 remained in foster homes formerly under Su- pervision of the Children's Home Commission; IS were placed in new foster homes investigated by the Bureau of Child Welfare and 3 were placed in an institution for training. All of the g committed to the Commissioner of Welfare were placed in foster homes.
 There still remains some children in boarding homes and these we will always have with us for they do not meet the rigid requirements set by the State for acceptance of chil- dron. Some of these children are of low mentality and must be care- fully supervised in equally careful ly selected homes. Others are phy- sically handicapped and are in need of special medical care before they can be considered eligible for conn., mitment, still others are classified as merely dependent children and mast remain as legitimate city charges. The care of these children is a great one which taxes the in- genuity and patience of all con- ceyned. Every effort is made to de- velop the child along lines which will enable him to eventually take hin place as a worthwhile citizen of our nation.
 Boarding Homes
 The Children'S Home Commission also has under supervision 32 homes licensed by the State Bureau of Child Welfare under the Blanket License of the Children's Home Commission. During the past year 4 of these homes have been relin- uuished to the State Bureau so that the children committed might re- main in familiar home environ ment.
 In an effort to provide supervi- sion and foster home care for these children, 2,436 visits were made to or in behalf of clients and 1,561 of- flee interviews were taken.
 The Children's Home Commission has made use of the facilities of the various private agencies, local medical clinics ard various recrea- tional opportunities tp provide all children under care with as exten- sive a program as was possible.