Evening star., 1951-03-15
Meeting Set as Home
For Found|ings Faces
Loss Of Chest Aid
BY Wallace E. Clayton


The trustees of the Washington
Home for Foundlings will meet
tomorrow to chart plans for the
institution which is running at a
deficit and faces possible loss of
Community Chest support.
Walter S. Pratt. jr., chairman
of the board of the 82-year-old in
stitution, said his group will make
every effort to keep its spacious
home at Forty second and
Brandywine streets NV.
Members of the family and
child welfare section of the
United Community Services unan-
tmously voted yesterday to with
draw Community Chest support
from "the present program" of
the home.
UCS officials pointed out, how
ever, this action did not slam the
door on the possibility the home
may receive Chest funds in 1852
because:
/. Actions by the section must
be approved by the UCS Execu-
tive Committee and Board of
Trustees.
2. The rejection was of the
homes program" only.
However. officials said the vari-
Gus sections in charge of admit
ting community agencies to Chest
support, and the top-level review
ing agencies usually see eye-to-
eye.
No Suggestions on Change.
Although they said support
might be given the home if it
would change its type of service,
no suggestions on what these
changes might be were forthcom-
ing.
Mr.. Pratt, however, said trus-
tees of the home wanted to keep
it open under its present program,
which is caring for founding
children.
Crux Of the complaint against
the home by UCS-and cause of
the homes financial troubles
its cost of operation.
In preliminary report of a
study ordered last year, when
withdrawal of Chest support from
the home also was recommended.
it was pointed out that almost all
the "a infants now at the home
are wards of the Board of Public |
Welfare. The board pays $45 a
month for each child, against an
actual cost to the home of $3.50.
UCS officials complained that
Community Chest funds were thus
being used to support infants who
are the responsibility of the Gov
ernment.
Foster Homes recommended.
The report also quoted authori-
ties on child welfare to the effect
that it is better for infants to be
placed in foster homes than in in
stitut1ons, no matter how excellent /
the care. The Board of Public /
Welfare has said it will remove the
last Of Its children from the home
by December 81.
UCS is leaning toward use of !
foster homes for economy rea-
sons due to belief that such homes
are better for the child.
Prime purpose of the study was
to determine if foster homes for
infants in the District could be
developed in sufficient supply. A
complete report is expected in
week or two.
Mr.. Pratt, however, said he
thought the UCS might De over
optimistic in its belief foster home
care would be cheaper. He also
said care given infants at the
Home for Foundlings was out
standing and probably better than
that available at many private
homes.
He added that through institu-
tions such as the Home for Foun-
dlings. adoption is usually at a
rapid pace, and pointed out that
once founding is adopted it is
no longer a burden to the tax
payer.
Although the home is only half
filled at present, Mr.. Pratt said he
thoE!hE continuance of the insti
tuition urder its present program .
was o necessity n view of the in
ter1ational situation.
"The problems of illegitimate
babies will increase with the ma
tional emergency" he said. There
has to be some place where the
unwed mother can leave her child