Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-08-29
Merger ofChest,
Social Agencies
Council Voted
Final Action Awaited;
Complete Welfare
Overhaul PIunned

A new Chest Council, merging
the Washington Community
Chest and Council of Social
agencies and providing wider
community participation in well
fare planning, has been approved
by the Chest Executive Commit
tee and the Council Board, it
was announced today.
The joint recommendation now
awaits final official action from the
chests board of trustees, the coun-
ellis delegate body and the boards
OF member agencies. These govern
ing bodies are expected to call
meetings in the near future to act
on the plan.
The plan, which has been in the
making since early this year, would
mean a complete overhaul in the
social welfare setup here. Outside
of the merger, the most important
change is in the personnel respon-
sible for guiding policy.
Instead Of the present two indie
pendent chest and council boards
with their large membership of pro-
feSsional workers, a single board
would be created with the emphasis
on nonprofessional membership. OF
the 212 board members, approx
mately $50 would not be professional
social workers.
Wide Representation Sought.
For the first time in the history
OF the two organizations, a delegate
body would be created with repre-
sentation from every city-wide COM
munity organization active in well
fare fields. From this body, 80
members would be chosen to serve
on the board of directors.
Announcement of concrete plan
for reorganization was made jointly
by Lee D. Butler, Chest president,
and DR.. Ernest S. Griffith, Council
president At the same time they
made public joint statement from
the Chest Executive Committee and
the Council board.
In this statement the proposed
reorganization was described as
aimed at achieving 1.-The greatest
possible efficiency and economy as
well as greater understanding and
cooperation on the part of all ele-
ments in the community"
Consolidated in the new organiza-
ton would be the present Chest
functions of budgeting, public rela-
lions and support Of the Chest
Federation and the Council func-
tons of research and planning for
all health and welfare services Of
the District. Administration Of
both central agencies also would be
included in the new setup.
Objections Outlined.
The new organization, according
to the joint statement, would have
these detectives:
81. To consolidate administration.
planning and public relations of the
health and welfare services OF the
District and budgeting of Chest
supported agencies in a single in
tegrated organization.
%. To see that such an organiza-
ton is broadly representative OF all
elements of the community so that
there will be an equally broad base
of confidence and Support.
90. To place responsibility for
overall management of the single
organization on broadly representa-
tive lay elements of the community
with adequate participation and
collaboration of professional social
workers.
a. To see that the best thought,
both lay and professional, shall be
brought to bear upon the common
health and welfare problem.
Budget Up to Public Members.
IS. To provide for full lay citizen
responsibility for budgeting with the
skills Of the professional social
worker brought to bear effectively
in an advisory capacity.
Is. To provide for the effective
administration of central service,
such as information and referral,
case registration and clearance, and
the enlisting of volunteers.
~. To relate the eligibility Of
agencies for Chest funds to social
need, economical management and
community acceptability.
"S. To insure that the overall pro-
gram of health and welfare services
See CHEST PAGE A-6)