The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-07


 gram.
 Direct Relief
 The case load per month is indi- cated in the following table:
 September, 1888 ..........l,SSS
 October, 1888 ......... 1,SSS
 November, 1888 ...........l .l'S60
 December, 1888 ..........I.4SS
 January, 1889 ..........."l'9SS
 February, 1889 ..........l l'SSI
 March, 1889 .....s..''.'''!'oS0
 April, 1SS9 ...............!'oo0
 May, 1889 .,............'.'I'S 'I'S!I
 June, 1889 ............,.'l lbs.
 July, 1889 ,..,....'''''''' a'SSs
 August, 1889 .......'.'''''i' 'i'SA'
 The average expense per family for a month for the entire year has been about $2o,25. ....
 From the latter part ot 1884 through 1887 there was a gradual decrease in the case load until early fin 1888 when @ definite rise was noted. This continued until a new peak was reached In March 1859 waterbury was not alone in feeling this increased need for relief as re- ports from other cities and states fhroughout the nation showed the same proportional increase.
 The Intake Department has func- tioned most efficiently during the past year. The tremendous rise in relief applications in February ana March of 1889 necessitated an ap- t,ointment system for the clients which was worked out to cause a minimum of inconvenience to each applicant.
 Refusals were made immediately If other sources, income, bank ac- counts, etc. indicated that family could be self-supporting.
 During the year, the Children'S Division of the Department of Pub- lic Welfare has had under care l3e children. Of these 53 have been committed to the care of the State (2l to the New Haven County Home, 3 to the New London County Home and 30 to the Commissioner of Welfare). There are still under care some children of low mentality whom 1t has been necessary to place outside their own home. It Is hoped that during the coming year the new hospital for mental defectives at Southbury will absorb some of these. Still others who are physi- cally handicapped as well as those who are merely dependent, have been cared for during the year.
 There were under supervision of this department 46 boarding homes licensed by the State Bureau Of Child Welfare. Many of these have been turned over to the state so that children already boarding there might remain.
 This division is especially aligned with the private agencies. schools, local medical clinics, dental clinics recreational centers, etc. so that all children deprived of care in their own home may be provided with a' extensive a program as possible.
 During the year 9-l-38 to 8-3i-3s one hundred widows in Waterbury have received aid in maintaining suitable homes for their 269 chil- dren, under provisions of the State Widows Aid Act which grants as- sistince for citizen widows unable otherwise to furnish adequate sup port for children under sixteen years of age.
 On s-3i.38 eighty-four widows were receiving weekly checks for themselves and their 232 dependent children. During the subsequent year there were thirty-nine applica- tons of which there were sixteen, involving forty.seven children. in which conditions were found to meet requirements of the statutes only one of these involved a family to which aid had previously been discontinued.
 Poor business conditions have probably had an influence on the fact that there have been fewer dis- continuances than in some other years. Of the ten families with 27 children from which aid has been withdrawn, only two were found in which earnings of the widow or old CT children had increased to a point where assistance was no longer deemed necessary. An inheritance disqualified another family, three widows remarked and in two in- stances aid was discontinued wher there were no longer any children under sixteen. Most of the families have been able to maintain them- selves without further aid from any agency.
 In addition to the families in which aid was discontinued. ont girl married and twenty-one other children ceased to benefit when they attained the age of sixteen.
 On e-3i-3o, therefore, ninety wid' cws with 220 children are receiving benefits under the Widows Aid Act
 Many of the children over sixteer have remained in school, some as. sisted by the National Youth Ad. iministration program for student! and, in 6 few instances, by supple inentatlon from the Department oi Public Welfare.
 Requests have also been made and granted by the Department of Pub- lie Welfare for emergency supple snentary aid when there has been decrease or discontinuance of earn- tngs of older children. Several oi these children have been referred tc or continued on W. P. A. or N. Y A. projects or the Civilian Conser- yation Corps.
 Most of the widows have welcom- ed the opportunity of obtaining available Government Commodities of food and clothing. Services of the household aid project and of private agencies have been requested and generously given.
 Tn accordance with the law, pro- vision has been made for medical and dental care. Use of the facilities of the hospital dispensaries has been encouraged but consultation with private doctors or dentists has been permitted whenever 1t seemed necessary or advisable. Bills for such care have been submitted