Evening star., 1940-04-30
Welfare Board Backs
Bill for Licensing
ChiId-P|acing Units
Hopes for Action at
Next Session; Approves
Bostordy Act Revision

The Board of Public Welfare to-
day was on record as being "in
accord with the purposes" of a bill
drawn up by the Council of Social
Agencies to require licensing OF
agencies placing children in foster
homes.
The proposed bill was submitted
to the board yesterday, along with
another bill providing for revision
of the present Bastardy Act. After
its meeting, the board made public
a statement declaring it is in accord
with the purposes of the two meas
ures and favors an inclusive bill
for licensing of all child placing and
child-caring agencies.
However" the statement added
"the board regrets that the drafts
have come in so late in the session
of Congress that the customary
procedures of consideration by the
Commissioners. the corporation
counsel, the Bureau of the Budget
and committees in Congress seem
to preclude action at this session. u
Prepare for Next Session.
Board officials said they will con-
fer with interested individuals and
organizations in the hope of having
the proposed legislation ready for
the next session of Congress.
The proposed licensing bill as
drafted by the Council of Social
Securities would have the effect OF
forcing baby brokers' out of busi-
ness, since it would forbid them s.to
accept fees for placing children in
foster homes, according to critics
of the proposed legislation. The
measure sets up provisions for
licensing of such agencies and the
standards they must meet, but it
also contains the following proviso:
mo child-placing agency shall in
any case charge or receive from the
persons legally adopting any child
any compensation therefor; and in
no case shall any person taking a
child with the intention of adoption
demand or receive from such agen-
cy any compensation for the care
clothing or medical attendance of
such child even though it shall be
returned to the agency"
Would Set Standards.
The bill would require licensing
of any person, firm, corporation
association or public agency that
receives children under Is years of
age for placement in foster homes
It calls for creation of a special
committee to formulate standards
of care and services for children
placed in family homes to which all
licensed child-placing agencies
would have to conform. The COM
mittee would be composed of repre-
sentatives of the Welfare Board
Health Department and charitable
organizations having an organized
program for placing children.
No persons other than the par
ents, guardians or close relatives
and no firm, corporation, associa-
ton or agency other than a licensed
child placing agency would be per-
mitted to arrange for placement Of
a child in a family home or fol
adoption.
The bill to revise the Bastardy
Act, which was adopted in 1912 anc
is considered out Of date, provides
for modernization of the Language
and corrects certain jurisdictiona
defects. Under the suggested
changes, a mother is not required
to be a resident of the District tt
come within the scope of the law.
The revised law also would re.
quire a father to support a chile
until it reaches 18 years of age
The present law provides for sup.
port up to the age of II.