The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-07-09

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stand how the governing body of our
city could be so unaware of an
organization which has been fin
anced and supported by the resi-
dents of this community for over
twenty-five years, and which has
been housed by the city government
during that time. We therefore de-
sire to take this opportunity to
state few Of the facts In the Sit
uation.
In the Council meeting the agency
was enormously referred to by the
Councilmen as the Down River
Council Of Social Agencies. That
organization is housed at 1859 Bid
die Avenue and is the overall
planning, budgeting and fund rails
ing body of the War Chest and
Community Fund for the Downriver
area. Outstanding citizens of Wy
andotte have for many years served
on tnat DOarQ.
The Family Protective Associa-
ton was founded in 1917 and since
1927 has been completely financed
by the Community Fund. The pur-
pose of the agency is to render as
sistance and counseling to families
In distress. 1t has enjoyed the full
support Of the citizens of Wyan-
dotte, both by yearly contributions
to the Community Fund and
through active participation in
the special projects of the agency.
AT the annual meeting in January
1945, the membership which is
composed of Wyandotte and Tren-
ton residents, voted to have the
agency reorganized and to form the
nucleus of larger agency serving
the entire down river area. The
name was changed to Down River
Consultation Service. The reorgan-
lied agency maintains offices in
Wyandotte, Trenton, Ecorse and
River Rouge; these agencies are in
public buildings. Each one of these
communities has a locally located
governing body concerning itself
with the problems peculiar to the
individual community. The Family
Protective Association Board con-
tinues as the governing body of the
Down River Consultation Service.
The case workers located in the
Wyandotte office serve our COM
munity and reside here. The budget
provides for three workers for the
local office. The present space takes
care Of only two workers. 1t is for
this reason that we wrote you on
April 3rd, asking that you consider
with US the possible remodel
ing plans. We have had no report
on this from you. Your records will
reveal that the agency pays a year.
ly nominal fee of two hundred dol
lars to help defray heating and
lighting expenses. We provide our
own janitor service.
One of the councilmen asked the
question as to what the agency does
for Wyandotte. The agency gives
counseling help to individuals and
families. Since its establishment 5000
individual families have received
service from the agency. In 1914 three
hundred and ninety seven families
came to us; and two thousand, seven
hundred and twenty four inter-
views were held with these families
and persons concerned with their
welfare. The problems handled had
to do with difficulties between hus-
bans and wives, with children in
their own homes who were not ad-
justing satisfactorily, with nmar-
ried mothers. with job counselling,
with the placement Of children out
side their own homes. and many
other problems. Because we are
supported by the Community Fund
We refer our clients to any agency
in Wayne County also supported by
the Fund. Last year we so referred
289 families for legal aid, child
placement. psychiatric guidance and
innumerable other services. All serv-
ices rendered by the agency are
confidential. This years relief item
for occasional financial assistance
Is $2050
In addition to these services. the
agency has always had special prof.
ects:
Through the efforts of the Board
and Staff the first Wyandotte Muir
sery School was established in 1885,
with the cooperation Of the Board
of Education and financed by the
W.P.A. You will recall that it was
this agency which met with Coun-
cilmen Brohl, Schultz and Burke in
order to save the Nursery School
from discontinuance when the
Board of Health requested the use
Of the rooms in November 1912.
Again in April 1913 this agency
sought your assistance in urging our
representatives in Congress to ap-
prove the Lanham Funds for this
same Nursery School. We were
grateful for your cooperation. The
Board Of Education assumed full
control Of the Nursery School
when these Lanham Funds were
secured. For nine years then this
agency has been actively concerned
with the Nursery School and has
always worked for its continuance.
For thirteen years the agency
sponsored clubs for girls when the
city had no recreation department.