Evening star., 1940-07-16
Cornerstone Laying
Marks Milestone
In Child Care Here
Ceremony Will Be Held
Today by Jewish
Social Service Agency


Washington social welfare work
will reach another milestone this
afternoon when the cornerstone
is laid for new building to house
the Jewish Social Service Agency at
1871 Spring road NV.
A number of ofncials who have
worked ceaselessly Over a period of
years to replace institutional care
of Jewish children with individual
home care will be present for the
ceremonies.
In the new building the Jewish
Social Service Agency, unit of the
Community Chest. will administer
affairs of the Jewish Foster Home,
marking what was once considered
radical" departure in the solu-
ton of child welfare problems.
The outmoded idea of treating
children in the mass in an institu-
ton has given way to consideration
of them as individuals who can
best be cared for In their own homes
or by placing them in foster homes.
Two Services Merged.
Before the change there was no
connecting link between the Jewish
Social Service Agency. a welfare
unit dealing with family problems
as a whole. and the Jewish Foster
Home, which was an institution for
harboring children whose homes had
suffered a social breakdown" The
two services are now merged and
the problems treated as one.
Herbert j Rich, chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Jewish
Foster Home, pointed out that the
story leading up to the new devel-
opment goes back to 1911, when the
home was set up with q roll of IL
children. BY 1929 the home cared
for so children.
Throughout these years" he said,
"the home was an independent
agency, providing institutional care,
while the Jewish Social Service
Agency cared for children in their
own homes. including those who
were ineligible for or did not want
institutional care. The services OF
these two agencies were not related
to one another. The home itself had
no preventive program. No planned
attempt was made by it to stop
'breakdowns' in families with chill
dren, nor was any emphasis placed
on services which might have kept
the family intact"
First Studies in 1929.
The first studies Of the situation
were made in 1929, and the first
step toward merging the two agen-
cies was taken in 1884 with the as
signment of case workers to investi-
gate applications for admission to
the home.
Gradually in the next five years
the number Of the children in the
home decreased. Foster homes were
found for some, and others were
cared for in their own homes. In
August, 1899, the last remaining
child in the home was placed, end
ing institutional care here for Jew
ish children.
Ofncials pointed out that not only
has the change been highly bene-
ficial from the standpoint of caring
for the children, but that economies
effected have permitted the en-
ployment of a case supervisor in the
family agency and the addition Of
stan members.
For the same total cost new pre-
ventive and protective services to
children also have been introduced,
including housekeeprer service, aid
in special health problems and in
creased financial aid to motherless
or fatherless families.
Morris Klass. director Of the agen-
cy, cited an example Of saving ef-
fected in the care of six motherless
and fatherless children. Had they
been placed in an institution the
cost of caring for them would have
been about $3.50 per month. But
cared for in the home OF an aunt
and uncle the cost was only SIS dur
ing the first few months. and, since
the foster fathers income recently
increased. only about $40. a month
is needed by the family for the
children.