Evening star., 1939-10-26
Child Welfare
Legis|ationNeed
Is Stressed
Social Agencies Unit
Discusses Several
Reforms Held Vital

NIS~U9SCS SSVSIOI
Reforms Held Vital
Legislation to provide for licens.
ing OF agencies caring for children,
to safeguard lllegitimate children
and to broaden the powers of the
District Board of Public Welfare
were urged yesterday at the first fall
of the Child Welfare Divi-
sion of the Washington Council Of
Social Agencies, held in the Y. w.
c. A. Building at GA E street NV.
The proposals were by subcom-
of the divisions Legislative
Committee, Of which Mrs. Louis Ot-
tenberg is chairman. Mrs. Often
berg introduced the subcommittee
chalrmen and in brief address said
the council members are grateful
for the Juvenile Court, and ex-
pleasure at additional ap-
made for personnel of
the Child Welfare Division of the
Board OF Public Welfare. She as
serted, however, that the Districts
child welfare program is 'jeopardized
without additional legislative meas
ureS.
Cites Licensing Needs.
Miss Mildred Terrett, director Of
the Chlldren's Protective Associa-
ton and chairman of the legislative
subcommittee on licensing provision
for child caring agencies and indi-
vlduals, stressed the need of licens-
ing such agencies, declaring:
There are in the District, known
TO many OF us here, institutions,
boarding schools and private FAM
lilies where children are accepted for
care with little thought for the needs
OF the children placed. could
describe a small boarding school,
several of whose pupils have been
known to me personally, where dirt.
hunger and blows are the lot of
the pupils. I know private foster
family homes where the behavior
OF the members of the family and
the relation between them creates
an atmosphere positively poison
ous to the children who live there,
And l know small institution
where children are cared for at a
physical level below what health re-
quires and with almost no provision
for their play needs"
Declaring that the feeling has be-
come widespread that some legal
protection should be offered chill
dren who live away from their FAM
lies Miss Terrett said that %
states now have laws intended to
give such protection
Laws Set Up Standards.
The essential feature of these
laws is the setting up of standards
Of care for children such that thev
may not only get good physical care,
but also may develop happily and
fully she added, urging that an
agency to set up standards be estab-
lished here.
Miss Terrett pointed out that the
District has law authorizing the
Health Department ito investigate
foster homes and institutions. at
least so far as their physical suita-
olllty goes" She added, however.
that DR.. Ella Oppenheimer, director
of the Maternal and Child Welfare
Bureau OF the Health Department
and a member of her committee,
has found it impossible to extend
this inquiry to cover some of the
social features Of these homes. But"
said Miss Terrett, "she feels keenly
the need for a broader legislative
basis for these investigations"
Miss Lucia Murchison. director of
Medical Social Service of the Health
Department. urged an increase in
the personnel Of the Children's Di-
vision of the Board of Public Well
fare so homes can be better investi-
gated.
Would Avoid Stigma.
Albert Conradis, chairman of the
Committee on Modern Safeguards
for the Illegitimate Child, urged a
method to avoid stamping birth
certificates to identify illegitimate
children. 1t is necessary frequently,
Mr.. Conradis pointed out, for a per-
son to produce birth certificate to
obtain a job. When that person has
to produce certificate showing
himself to be an illegitimate child
he has two strikes on him." Mr..
Conradis added.
Mr.. Conradls also urged the adopt
ion OF method through which the
father of an illegitimate child could
acknowledge parenthood without 60
ing through embarrassing legal pro-
cedure.
Miss Alice Padgett, of the Catholic
University School of Social Work
and chairman of the legislative SUBJ
committee for enlarging powers of
the Board Of Public Welfare, urged
legislation to increase the powers of
the board. Among the items her
committee proposals embody are
service for unwed mothers, a provi-
sion to enable the board to have
care of children without
Juvenile Court procedure and to
investigate homes more thoroughly.
Working with Miss Terrett on her
committee. besides DR.. Oppenheimer,
is DR.. Agnes Hanna of the Children's
Capt. Milliken on Committee.
Aiding Mr.. Conradis on his com.
mittee are Ray Everett, director of
the Social Hygiene Society; Capt.
Rhoda Milliken, director of the
Women's Bureau, Police Depart.
ment, and Miss Jean S. Cole, super.
of the Florence Crittenton
Home.
On Miss Padgett's committee are
Miss Patricia Morse, chairman of
the Welfare Division of the Board of
Public Welfare; Miss Marta Red
lngton, Catholic Charities; Mrs. Paul
Appleby, chairman of the Child Wei.
fare Committee, League of Women
Voters, and Dr. Hanna.
The Rev. Dr. John Rustin, pastor
Of Mount Vernon Place M. E.
and chairman of the Child
Welfare Division of the council.
,,rociloI of thu o,or;r~ 2f ,,~.A>.