Evening star., 1949-12-18
Study
Plan 10 Run DC.
Child Centers
Jews and Protestonts
May Get Authority for
Doy-Core Program

groups mere COulO Jake OVcl Ic.
sponsibility for the Districts child
day-care centers is being explored.
lit was disclosed yesterday.
The Commissioner have under
consideration a report recommend
ing they move to establish the
centers on a permanent basis,
rather than the present year-to-
year status.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fow-
ler said he felt that church opera
tion of the program would be a
HAPPY solution"
The city heads have been
informed by DR.. Frederick E.
Reissig, executive secretary of
the Washington Federation of
Churches, that the Federation's
Welfare and Christian Education
Departments will look into the
question of taking on the program.
Jewish Group to Study Need.
DR.. Reissig. who was approached
on the subject by Rabbi Norman
IGerstenfeld, Public Welfare Board
member, wrote that "our Social
Welfare Department has been
keenly aware of the program for
pre- school children and has united
with the United Community Serv-
ices in a study of this need and
how it can best be met"
Besides the Protestant group.
the Jewish Community Council
said it would explore ways in
which its members might help
provide facilities.
Isaac Franck, executive director
of the council, wrote the Com
missioners:
II feel sure that the synagogues
in particular will be interested in
the problem, and there is every
reason to suppose that they will
be happy to be of service"
Mr.. Fowler heads a committee
which has advised the Commis-
sioners to take steps toward put
ting the day-care centers on per-
manent basis.
Established During War.
The city heads had asked the
committee, including Superintend-
ent of Schools Hobart M. Corning.
Public Welfare Director John w.
Tramburg, Assistant Corporation
Counsel Chester Gray and Miss
Anne w. Davidge, special assistant
to Commissioner Guy Mason. to
report to them on continuation Of
! the program by the District.
Purpose of the centers is to care
for children from to 10 years of
age, whose mothers work. in fami-
lies with gross incomes of not
more than $4,000 a year.
They were established during
World War II by the Federal Gov
ernment to provide an additional
source of manpower in the war
effort. After the war, the Fed
eral support was Withdrawn, and
the centers were continued briefly
by charitable interests.
Congress then added the pro-
gram to the Districts welfare
functions on year-to-year basis.
Each year since then. Congress
has included in District appro-
priation acts funds for operation
of the centers. although the COM
mittee pointed out, the city
neither requested funds nor de-
sired to operate this program as
an addition to its normal, perma-
nent welfare functions"
Other Nurseries Operate.
At present. there are, besides
commercial day nurseries, four
white and three eolored day
nurseries operated by private
charities. while the District oper-
ates three white and three colored
day-care centers having a total
capacity of 315 children, the city
heads were informed.
The committee said that, in a
sense, the day care service over
laps the program of aid to de-
pendent children included in tho
District Governments permanent
welfare program and that the
centers "have entered a field
hitherto that of private organized
charity and commercial opera
tion."
But the problem remains, It
went on, as to whether the District
should withdraw and leave the
solution to welfare and charity
or use the service on a permanent
basis to permit persons who, with
their families, otherwise might be
completely dependent on the COM
munity, to become partially self
sustaining.
Rehabilitation Cited.
If this program is established
on a permanent basis and eff
GENTLY administered, it will pre-
vent further pressure on the aid
to dependent children program
and provide care for the con-
cerned children at less cost to
the District" than the former
program. the report declared.
There is also a rehabilitation
factor that should not be over
looked. The recipient of this
service win be gainfully employed
and contributing materially to the
support of her family. She will
not lapse into hopeless apathy
apparent in the majority of cases
entirely dependent upon charity
and the opportunity is always
present for the person to improve
her financial status and COM
pletely. support her family"
The Board of Public Welfare,
which operates the centers be-
lieves the program is needed, but
that its development and admin
istration does not belong to the
board. Congress has appropriated
100000 for the day-care pro-
gram this fiscal year,