Evening star., 1947-12-29
Chances Of Adopting
Doorstep Baby Slim,
Welfare Board Says

Warm hearted Washington resi-
dents, who have called newspapers
police and Gallinger Hospital with
offers to adopt 8week-old Lola
June, abandoned by her mother last
Friday, were told today by the
Board of Public Welfare that they
stand little chance of getting the
infant.
If the baby, found with note
saying, please take care of me, y
becomes the ward of the Board of
Public Welfare, she will be started
on a long process of supervision and
investigation like any other baby
under public care, officials pointed
out.
Lola June was found on the front
doorstep of the home of Karl E.
Dietz, 1895 Hurst terrace NV. She
was warmly dressed and a box with
extra clothes, milk and feeding
instructions was found beside her
Mr.. Dietz, the father of four chill
dren, called police and the baby was
taken to Gallinger Hospital.
Mother to Be Sought.
Miss Helen Coon, supervisor OF
the intake department in the child
welfare division, outlined the steps
which may eventually lead to the
adoption of the child.
First, she said, the Police Depart
ment Women's Bureau must con-
clude thorough and rapid investi-
cation to try to find the mother.
The search, which has been going
on for three days, has produced no
definite leads thus far.
Probably within a months time,
if the mother is not found, the Juve-
nile Court will make the Board of
Public Welfare Lola June's legal
guardian.
Before this the baby will have
been taken from Gallinger Hospital,
where she now is under observation,
and placed in one of the boards
foster homes. These foster homes
are families who receive compensa-
ton from the board to care for
young children.
Board to Keep Her a Year.
Lola June will remain under the
care of the board for at least year,
Miss Coon said During that time
a more leisurely investigation will
be carried on by the board to find
the chuds mother.
I'VE hope very much that the
mother will get in touch with us
somehow" Miss Coon said. There
is so much that we can do for her
in the way of financial aid and
moral support. Whatever her prob
lem is that made her give up her
baby, I'm sure we could straighten
it out for her. From the way she
took care of the baby, know she
wants her child and nothing would
make us happier than getting them
back together"
Miss Coon pointed out that after
the Board of Public Welfare be-
comes the legal guardian of the
baby, the decision whether or not
to prefer charges against the
mother rests with the board In
this case, Miss Coon said, all the
indications are that no such action
would be taken.
Examination Thorough.
If the mother is not found, the
baby will undergo thorough physical
tests, and. in few months psyche
logical examinations to determine
her qualifications for adoption. In
a case like this, where nothing is
known about the child's heredity,
these examinations are especially
thorough, Miss Coon said. At the
end of a year, the baby may be
eligible for adoption.
In warning interested families
against pinning their hopes on
adopting Lola June now, spokesman
in the adoption unit of the board
pointed out that there already are
several hundred applications for
infants already Before any of
these may get legal guardianship of
a baby. the board must investigate
them thoroughly. The child is then
placed in the family for a probation
period.