Evening star., 1939-08-13
Hazen 10 Ask Report
By Welfare Board
On Adoption Law
Social, Agencies Study
PIons for Curb on
Body Brokers.


announced yesterday he would call
upon the Board Of Public Welfare
for . report on proposals for new
laws affecting legal actions in the
adoption Of children in the District.
His announcement followed COM
ments by Judge Alan Goldsboroueh
Of District, Court, suggesting q leg
islative curb on baby brokers" and
for improvement OF boarding homes
for children in the District.
Commissioner Hazen refrained
from expression Of any personal
opinion on the subject, but declared
he believed some action should be
taken by the Commissioners after
studying a full report which he
asked be submitted for the Welfare
Board.
Such q report is not expected for
several weeks since Robert E.
Bondy, recently named director of
public welfare, now is closing out
his work as an official Of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, and is not expected
to assume his District Job prior to
September /.
Council Drafts Plans.
Meanwhile plans for protection
Of mothers who wish to place their
children in foster homes are be-
ing drafted by local public and
private agencies, the Council of
Social Agencies announced.
The council, which is the CEN
tral service and planning organiza-
tion supported by the Community
Chest, will first seek to safeguard
mothers from baby brokers'" pend
ing enactment Of legislation to pre-
vent unregulated placement of
children by private individuals.
Then 1t will work on the legisla-
ton proper, officers said.
THE problem must be attacked
from two angles" stated Mrs. Err
nest Gruening, chairman of the
Legislative Committee of the Child
Welfare Division of the Council.
Legislation to bring all boarding
homes and persons engaged in the
placement of children under the
supervision of the Board of Pub
lie Welfare is vital. On the other
hand, increased facilities are need
ed in both public and private
agencies to enable them to advise
and assist parents who feel that it
is necessary to give up their chill
dren"
Although the council has been
working for such regulatory legis-
lation for a number of years, Mrs.
Gruening said that the interest and
support OF Judge Goldsborough gave
impetus to the proposed legislation.
Judge Goldsborough, in conference
yesterday with Mrs. Gruening and
Mrs. Olive Swinney, secretary of the
child welfare division OF the council
promised his advice on the drafting
Of the bill to be presented to Con-
gress at the next session, and his
active support in securing the pas
sage Of the bill.
Not New Problem.
On the other angle of the prob
lem-the possibility of increased
facilities for guidance Of mothers
wishing to place their children SC
that they would not be compelled tc
deal with baby brokers"-Mrs. Cru.
ening said the council has been con.
sulting with all the child welfare
agencies in the District, both public
and private.
This is not a new problem fol-
social agencies" stated Mrs. Gruen.
ing. For years, they have beer
endeavoring to assist parents and
children to the limit of their re-
sources. But many mothers, through
ignorance of the existence of sociaI
agencies, or through fear that the
agency would insist that they keep
the child, have permitted private
individuals to take their babies for
placement"
Mrs. Gruening explained that
social agencies endeavored to help
the mother work out a plan for
the child which would be most
beneficial to all concerned, and that
in a number Of situations. place.
ment of the child in a foster home
or for adoption was the wisest
course of action. In other cases,
where the circumstances warranted
it, parents or unmarried mothers
were helped to keep their children
Mrs. Gruening said.
But in all instances, a thorough
investigation is made so that the
social worker understands exactly
what are the economic and social
problems involved. and therefore is
in a position to give sound guild
ance," Mrs. Gruening stated.
Advice Offered.
The Children's Protective Associ-
alton and the Children's Division of
Catholic Charities. private agencies
supported by the Community Chest,
offer such a consultation service to
the limit Of their capacity, Mrs.
Gruening explained.
Mrs. Donell F. Hewett, chairman
Of the Committee on Community
Resources for the Children's Pro-
tective Association, stated that the
Board of Directors OF the agency
has recognized for sometime the
distinct need in the District for
a law licensing boarding homes and
child-placing agencies.
The Rev. Lawrence Sheehan of
Catholic Charities made the fol-
lowing statement concerning the
problem Of the placement of chill
dren: The Catholic Charities IA
vors such legislation as will pro-
tect fully the interests of the child,
the parents and the adopting par
ents. For such protection, it be-
neves that all placement of chill
dren should be supervised by ac-
credited public and private agen-
cies. Pending such legislation, the
Catholic Charities offers its service
to the people Of Catholic faith in
matters pertaining to the place
ment of children"
The Board of Public Welfare plans
to extend its facilities for guidance
of parents who find it necessary to
place their children. Miss Patricia
MOrSS SllDprviSOr of the Child Wei.