The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-20
NEW CHILD WELFARE
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That is another process set up by
the state through the Children'S
Home Society.
Foster homes care for children
from one day up to an indefinite
period.
They must be ready day or night
to take in an abandoned or neglect
! ed child.
After a home is checked, at least
10 days are required before the
state issues license.
81 was surprised" Johnson said,
when l found more experienced
foster parents in Key West than
in any other place where / have
worked. Maybe it is because so
many families are sent here by the
Navy"
1t isn't only state money that
takes care of the children. Some
of your Monroe County taxes -
5000 per month - also are spent
for that purpose.
81 try to save as much of the
county'S 5000 per month as l can
for use on children in the coun-
ty," johnson said.
20 Day Period
He explained that state money
can be used to maintain a child in
a foster home only up to- 80 days
except in some unusual cases.
When a child stays in a foster
home longer than 80 days, then it
is county money that keeps the
child in the home.
There are three children here
on long-term county money now"
Johnson added.
He also said he is working on
a plan - preventive measure -
that would stop many children
from being placed in the county
Jail and going to juvenile court.
II will appreciate it, he said.
IF law enforcement officers will
call me when they pick up a rum
away, an abandoned child or q de-
pendent or neglected child"
He believes it would be far bet.
ter to place such a child in a fos.
ter home rather than confine him
to the county Jail.
But besides the foster home set.
up, johnson - backed by state
and Federal funds - is equipped
to handle multitude of other pro.
blems involving children and their
homes.
HoUssksspsr Service
Take the housekeeper service for
one.
Say a mother must 70 to the
hospital The father must continue
work and there are no relatives to
help with the children at home
Then johnson and the State Wei.
fare Department can step in and
pay part of housekeeper's salary
until the mother is ready to take
up where she left off when she
went to the hospital.
And runaway children. Any child
under Is years of age who runs
away from one town in Florida to
another town in Florida can be
sent home at state expense.
In the case of a child under is
who runs away from home in an
other state and winds up in Flo
rida, Federal funs are allotted to
the state to return the child to his
home.
and" Johnson went on, "These
funds can be used for clothing and
care as well as transpor-
tation. If necessary, we can even
pay an attendant to 60 along with
the child"
Unmarried Mothers
The cases of unmarried mothers,
too, are handled by JOhnSon's Of
flee.
Needy, perspective and unmar-
ried mothers can be sent to a ma
ternity home with state funds.
The woman is given plenty of
time to decide what she wants to
do with the child - does she want
to keep it or surrender it for
adoption?
1--WE never make the decisions
for them" Johnson said.
If she can provide for the child
and wants to keep him, she keeps
him.
If she wants to release the baby
for adoption, the Children's Home
Society takes over.
Johnson'S office also makes DOM
este investigations. when out.of-
town or out-of-state children's