The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-04-25
FOSTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN NOW BIG NEED, SAYS HARMON
Welfare Director, Mayor Hendriekson, Eric New
 bouId Talk, AL Meet

"One of the greatest needs, and that most difficult to fill, which the Department of Public Welfare copes with every day is that Of finding foster homes for children, '" declared Henry Harmon, Welfare Director, in a speech at the meet ing of the American Legion last night.
 It was in the Legion's observance of child welfare week that the en tire meeting of the Legion Post and the Auxiliary was turned over to Past Department Commander Waino Hendrickson. Harmon, Hen drickson and Post Chaplain Eric Newbould all spoke eloquently on welfare problems.
 The welfare director, in one of his first public appearances in his official capacity, outlined the work and problems of his department, saying that not only is there great and continuing need for desirable foster homes, but also that some immediate provision should be made for a sort of receiving home." He stated that in cases where any children, not necessarily delin- quents, are referred to the depart ment for aid, it is usually necessary to spend several days or week O. more in determining just what can be done and what is best for the child. There is no place, he frankly admitted, at the present in Juneal where the children can be placed temporarily while their cases are being studied. He somewhat startled , his audience by remarking that he was thankful that Juneau has 8 good clean jaill"
 Legion members and Auxiliaries were very much interested in Har- mons talk, and asked questions and made several suggestions that may eventually bring about greater pub lie interest and real help for the welfare department.
 In opening the evenings program, Past Commander Hendrickson re- viewed some of the past record of the Legion in it's child welfare in- terests. He pointed out that since just about half of all the children in the US. today are those of vet erans, what happens to influence the lives of every second child is ot immediate concern to the Legion and its members. During the past 25 years more than seventeen mil lion dollars has been expended on direct aid to children by the Ameri- can Legion, the Auxiliary and the Forty-and-E Eight. These organiza- tions know, he stated, that "Ameri- can kids come nearest of any in the world to getting a square deal from their elders :. they want to keep it that way and improve upon it."
 Post Chaplain Eric Newpould, ill his part of the program, delivered very dynamic talk on child welfare and it's origin in the home circle. He stressed the need for greater ap- preciation of the part that religion plays in making the home what it should be. In analyzing the factors which keep a child from eventually becoming a delinquent, he stated that they were principally the home, the school, the church, and the community. adding that almost without exception those juveniles who would up in trouble with the law wre found to have both home and the church falling short in their influence.
 The meeting was well-attended by both members of the Legion and the Auxiliary. Mrs. Alfred Zenger. Sr., Mrs. Ned Zenger and Mrs. Edna Policy of the Auxiliary arranged for refreshments following the business session.