Evening star., 1946-07-27
Board Plans 10 Close
7 Day-Care Centers
To Stay Within Budget

Two OF tle IA chllQ DAY care CEN
ters, used by working mothers. will
have to be closed, owing to lack of
sufficient funds in the available
s250000 budget, the Board of Public
Welfare decided at its meeting yes
terday afternoon.
The board, which was suddenly
called to take over the centers from
the Board of Education under new
legislation. was unable to say which
two will be shut down, explaining
that the matter is being studied.
The Welfare Board adopted Board
Of Education regulations governing
the centers, subject to any technical
changes that may be found desirable
by experience. The Welfare Board
is seeking legal advice on possible
changes necessary.
Meanwhile, the 85 employees of the
centers have not yet been officially
taken over by the Welfare Board, as
their records are on their way to
the District Commissioners and the
Civil Service Commission so the Jobs
can be classified and the individuals
formally approved under the new
setup.
Must Decide Eligibility.
The board is faced with the prob
lem of setting up official standards
to determine what persons may avail
themselves of the use of the centers.
based on take-home pay and the
real need of the children and parents
concerned. Welfare Director Ray L.
Huff explained. The board antici-
pates no difficulty in operating the
centers in school buildings, which
are under the jurisdiction of the
Board of Education. Under the new
law, operation of the centers will
continue only until next June 80.
A survey of the centers is being
made by Miss Gladys Cook of the
Foster Day Care and Counsellors As
sociation. Community Chest pri-
vate organization. which acts in a
consulting capacity. This study. Mr.
Huff said, entails going over the
cases and taking care of the children
in areas where the centers may be
closed. Fees charged for the use of
the centers are based on a grad
uated scale. linked to income and
number of children in a family using
them. The board has adopted the
existing Board of Education fee
scale.
Representative Realy. Democrat,
of California. has introduced legis-
lstion to pay the teachers and other
workers who volunteered to carry on
after July l. Corporation Counsel
Vernon E. West ruled contained in
the Third Deficiency Act, gave no
authority to pay these employees, be-
cause the measure, signed by Presi-
dent Truman on July 16, was not
retroactive. Under Mr.. Healy's bill
their salaries would be paid out of
the approprited s25O.000 and would
not be an extra charge.
Foster Home Fees Raised.
The Welfare Board. which met at
its headquarters in the Municipal
Center, was informed in an opinion
by Mr. West that children COM
mitted by Juvenile Court to a train
ing school must be received, despite
Iovercrowding. The board, however.
has discretion in cases where a
home school is involved, Mr.. Huff
said.
The board adopted a proposal to
change its rates paid for children
in foster homes, beginning October
| l. The present rate is s25 to $50
per month per child. Under the
new plan, $50 could be paid for
children between and IA. For
children between 3 and 6 and those
over IA, the fee could be $35, and,
in emergency cases, $45 could be
charged for those under 3. These
new rates, rejecting the rising cost
of living, will permit the board to
find suitable foster homes for the
children, officials believe.
The board also voted to permit
payment of 50 per day for mothers
and 81 for infants in the Florence
Crittenton Home, the House of
Mercy and ST. Anne's Maternity
Hospital. The present rates are ST
for mothers and Q5 cortc for infants