The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-11-27
WELFARE AGENCY In MISSOJJLA
PROVIDES OUTSTANDING SERVICE

lis stark reality staring US in thu
face whether we like it or not. So
cial work is assured of being profes
sion as necessary and important al
law and medicine.
Montana Pioneers In Case Work
Training
Montana State University has beer
a pioneer in the field Of training fol
social work. Long before most state
universities established undergradu
ate courses in social work, Montana
State University started program OF
case work training. In 1880, Miss
Hazeltine Byrd, professionally
trained case worker, was hired to
teach courses at the university. Later,
Mrs. Elizabeth Asendorf, was secured.
And in September, 1888, l came to
Montana. AT that early date, an I'M
dergraduate field work course was in
operation in addition to the offering
of theory course in case work. Mis-
soula had already established the Fed
Grated Social Service Agency with a
full-time secretary. Students did their
field work in this agency. Most of
the supervision, however, was pro-
vided by the instructor at the uni
versity.
Laboratory Establishes Training
Unit in Family Welfare Agency
Cooperative relationships existed
between the Family Welfare Agency
and the university up until Septem-
Der, 1887, when the whole plan of field
work was reorganized. The uniyer-
sity then set up the Social Work
Laboratory to work on more co-ordi-
mated basis with variety Of social
agencies in the community In Sep
TENDER, 1888, field work training in
social case work was again in opera
ton. The Federated Social Service
Agency had been changed to the Fam
lily Welfare Agency with full-time
secretary devoting her time to family
welfare cases. The secretary assumed
full supervisory responsibility of the
students assigned and the Laboratory
rendered what guidance it could in
order to place the training received
IN as high level as possible. No
cash was involved. The agency need |
I'd additional help and the university |
needed the training services of the |
agency. In other words, a clear-cut |
cooperative relationship between the
public agency, and the
Family Welfare Agency, private, was
Until September, 1912, this relation
hip continued. Students even dur
ng summer sessions had the benefit
# the agency as a training center.
The program developed steadily dur
ng this time. And most of the peo-
lie having experience in the agency
ave found their places in case work
obs either in Montana or elsewhere
he agency has made fine contrihu
ion in service to the people of Mon
ana. However, few people probably
ealize this fact.
'amily Welfare Agency Terminated
In March, 1912, the Missoula Com.
lunity Chest board decided to term
nate the work of the Family Welfare :
-gency. 1t decided to exclude the
gency from it's budget. In August,
he agency closed it's doors. Its Sec
7tary Miss Astha Cartwell, profess
onally trained and successful work
:, left Montana for Massachusetts,
he agency was no longer a training
enter for social case workers. Mon {
ina lost one of it's very few profess {
onal workers, one who was in a key
0sition in Montana social work chief |
because of her role in training a {
uch needed supply of workers. Be- $
des, Missoula people lost the serv-