Evening star., 1945-05-01
last OF a Series.)
BY SARAH FLINN.

Five years from now, providing
Congress appropriates the necessary
money. and assuming that a return
to peace will bring adequate supplies
of building materials and manpower
there should be no real problem in
the rehabilitation of the delinquent
children of Washington
That same statement without the
qualifying clause might have been
made five years ago, however, with
made today.
Plans for homes for wayward chill
dren-discussed in two previous ar
ticles in The Star-would provide
three centers for child welfare. These
plans were brewing five years ago
Five years hence they still will be
only plans unless Congress at its
present session starts the wheels
rolling by definite appropriations.
Projects Listed.
These are the plans that depend
on congressional action:
The Receiving Home for Children
would be housed in new buildings or
the site where Gallaudet College
now is.
This center would be used moi
only as a receiving home, but woulc
serve as a classification center fol-
all the children in the care of the
Public Welfare Board. 1t woulC
provide an extended program to in
clude services to the various public
welfare agencies, and to the courts
by staff large enough and well
enough trained to determine scien-
tiflcally what care each child needs
Money for the land for the home
is at hand and the purchase is in
process. Eestimated cost for the
building and rehabilitation of the
land is 100000.
The second part of the plan is a
center to be housed at Laurel, Md
Here would be housed the Industrial
Home School, the National Train
ing School for Girls and the Dis
trict Training School.
Would Be Economical.
By centering these three institu-
tons together it would be possible
to save money in administration and
through the joint use of such serv-
ices as water, laundry, cooking and
cleaning. Because of the saving in
personnel and money, each institu-
ton would be able to invest more
in the rehabilitation of the children
through guidance and guided study
and work.
Each institution, although grouped
together, would remain individual
and segregated. Welfare officials
plan a self-sustaining community
with community services shared, but
small-group life retained. The
children would live in small home
like groups, study, play and work in
groups banded together by age, in
telligence and problems. They would
be small enough to allow for coun-
selling and personal attention.
Land for the National Training
School already has been appropriated
and the final question of purchase
discussed in yesterdays article,
comes before Federal court in Balti-
more soon. Additional land is need
ed for proposed extension of the
District Training School and the In
dustrial Home School. An estimate
of 1000 acres is needed, at cost OF
approximately $4,000.
Over Period of Years.
Buildings for the enlarged and i'm
proved National Training School will
cost an estimated $3.50 O,O00-to be
built over period of several years
while buildings for the Industrial
Home School will cost an estimated
5000 900.
The third center would be at Blue
Plains, at the present plant for the
Industrial Home School for Coloreo
Children. A new and extended in
stitution would provide for boys now
housed in the National Training