Evening star., 1939-03-19

clal cases m which Temporary"
or during minority" commitment
is clearing indicated.
Such change would save chill
dren on temporary commitment the
necessity Of repeated court appear
ances; 1t would save the time of
foster mothers and would ease the
task Of the hard-pressed social
workers of the child welfare divi-
sion," the group said. 1T is sug-
gested that the Juvenile Court re-
quire. instead, periodic written re-
ports on individual children to be
followed by conferences when in
dicated or desirable by either party"
Commitment Necessary.
Under the present law, it had been
explained, the welfare board can
not assist children in need of foster
care. except for a temporary period
of seven days, without Juvenile
Court commitment. This, the group
said, requires a court investigation,
a court record and the appearance
of the child in court in every case.
Few communities of the country
have such rule. it said. The pres
ent legal restrictions. 1t continued,
makes for duplication of effort as
Investigations are made both by
the court and the Child Welfare
Division.
Further, the survey body said:
"The Board of Public Welfare con-
siders itself responsible for the
supervision of children committed
permanently, until the age of 81,
regardless of whether such super
vision is needed or can be carried
out.
Each year there are children
who leave the care Of the board
without permission and without
leaving trace behind them. They
are now carried on the case load
until they are 81 and are then
dropped, although no services have
been rendered for a year or more.
"Other children are kept under
supervision after they have made
a good adjustment in a foster home,
because they are legal wards"
Budgets Are Proposed.
The group proposed a budget of
$11 500 for the proposed central
control over child care programs
including the salaries of q general
superintendent at $500, an assist
ant superintendent, and a secre-
tary.
1t proposed a budget of $79,540
for the proposed protective and
preventive services, including the
salary Of director at $1,000, two
case supervisors and IL social case
workers, 16 other workers and pro-
vision of four neighborhood or dis
trict Offices. Included in this serv-
Ice would be development of q
housekeeper service to families in
which the mother Is temporarily
absent.
For the child-placing service,
which now cares for about 73 per
cent of all the wards of the welfare
board, the group proposed budget
OF $451 ,16O as against the appropria-
ton OF 1856 ,280 for the present year.
Whereas social workers now handle
an average of more than 100 cases.
and the caseload in some instances
runs as high as 160, the survey group
proposed employment of sufficient
additional staff workers to cut the
average load to so children per
worker for supervision in foster
homes. A higher board rate, of
$21 so, also was suggested.
Increase in Staff Urged.
An increase in the staff assigned
to finding proper foster homes also
was urged. This service was de-
scribed as probably the weakest link
IN the present system of child plac-
ing. Whereas between $50 and 200
new foster homes are needed each
year, the present staff can find but
about 40 per year, the group said.
For the proposed new unit of case
work services to children in the in
stitutions, the group proposed staff
OF 10 workers with budget of
SIG ,460.
An appropriation of $4,000 was
recommended for a psychiatric and
psychological service to be developed
by the Health Department. in accord
with the opinion of authorities and
specialists in the field.
Another recommendation was that
comprehensive medical and dental
service be developed for all children
under the various units Of the Child
Welfare Division. The group rec
commended that such a program be
developed In cooperation with the
Health Department and should be
placed under the supervision Of a
Medical Advisory Committee. It
was estimated $25, 900 would be
needed annually for proper medical,
nursing and dental care for some
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