Evening star., 1939-04-16
Welfare Services
Must Have Selling
Program Says Street
Social Work Conference
Told of Need of Civic
Understanding


win community support and un-
derstanding," Elwood Street, retir-
ing director of public welfare in
the District, said yesterday in a
speech before the Washington, and
Suburban Conference of Social
Work in the United States Chamber
of Commerce Building.
All social welfare programs, he
declared. must be based on four
principles if they are to succeed:
Service, Interpretation, personnel
and organization.
"A completely conducted social
service is the first essential for any
financing plan" he declared. There
is no place for any agency which
operates a fictitious service or for
one which does not completely meet
human needs"
Stresses Value of Planning.
He stressed the value of planning.
and pointed out that the local
Council of Social Agencies performs
such a function He emphasized
that Interpretation of needs must be
made carefully and urged care in
selection of personnel, both profess
sional and voluntary.
Mr.. Streets talk was high spot
of the third and concluding day of
the conference, which brought to-
gether leaders of social welfare work
in the District and nearby. Round
table discussions marked the con-
ference sessions yesterday.
Mrs. John Jay O'Connor, chair
man of the Committee on Volunteer
Services of the council, led dis
cussion of clay participation in So
cial work" -Four members of the
Junior League, Cecil Jones, Anne
Carter Greene. Mrs. Robert Wilson
and Mrs. George Howland Chase
participated.
Need Reciprocal Arrangement.
Miss Mabel Boardman of the Red
Gross emphasized the need for a
reciprocal arrangement between lay
and professional workers, pointing
out that often one group or the
other took an attitude of superiority.
Mrs. Wilson Compton of the Y.
w. C. A. urge dthat board members
be selected on the basis of their
qualifications and their willingness
to work, rather than for their pres
tige in the community.
Mrs. Harry S. Bernton. president
of the Council of Social Agencies,
declared that the most important
lob that lay workers have to do is
to interpret the social program OF
an agency to community" She
was backed in this assertion by Mrs.
Dorothy Kurtz of Montgomery
County, Md, who cited her expert
ence on the Montgomery County
Welfare Board.
Mrs. Flora Casey of the Alexan-
dria Community Clinic, Miss Gene
We've Gabower of the Juvenile
Court and Mrs. William Adam Slade
of the board of Northwest Settle
ment, explained the programs OF
these agencies for selecting and
training volunteers.
Child Welfare Discussed.
At another round table, where
Capt. Rhoda Milliken of the Wom-
ems Bureau, Police Department,
presided. problems of child welfare
were discussed.
DR.. Agnes Greig of the Mont
gomery County school system, told
how psychiatry helped children and
adults follow their own urge to-
ward health of mind and body.
Mrs. ALLEN Burton of the Child
Guidance Clinic, Washington 1nsti-
tute of Mental Hygiene, suggested
ways for the psychiatrist to aid So
cial workers and teachers by an ex-
change of knowledge.
Miss Mildred Terrett, executive
secretary of the Childrens Protec-
tive Association, discussed foster
home care as a "tool" which case
working agencies can use in the
treatment" process with children.
She stressed the value of adequate
relief in a community, telling how
truancy has been cut down and
school work improved when chill
dren were furnished adequate clothes
and food.
Field Work Described.
Miss Ann Rogers, case worker at
the Florence Crittenton Home, and
Miss Sadie Wisner, chief probation
officer of Montgomery County, Md,
described their experience in the
field.
Participating in the round table
on neighborhood organization, un-
der Craftsmanship of Miss Elsa
Castendyke, were Mrs. Joseph Dunn
of Arlington County. Va, Mrs.
George Robertson of Takoma Park,
Md. and James Ring. The group
discussed means of reducing ju-
venile delinquency. centering its
discussion on strides made in Ar
lington County, Va.
Following the round table con-
ferences, the meeting closed with a
report luncheon at the Y. w. C. A.
Reports were made by the follow
ing round table chairmen: Morris
Klass, director of the Jewish Social
Service Agencies; DR.. Ralph Beach
ley, health officer of Arlington
County, Va; Miss Helen Fuller of
the Department of Justice; Miss
Sybil Baker, director of the De-
partment of Fairgrounds; Capt.
Milliken and Miss Castendyke.