Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29


foster homes, licensed, supervis-
ed and paid by the League with
County funds.
The Foster Care Program had
been started in 1923 because of
belief that private homes could
give children, dependent, neglect
ed or delinquent, the needed love
and affection seldom experienced
in the old fashioned orphanage.
The present trend is still in this
direction.
The League received its first
public funds as reimbursement
for board paid for wards of the
Juvenile Court. When it turn.
ed it's probationary service over
to the court in 1886, it again be.
came private agency no long
er dependent on tax funds.
Following this same policy, the
League turned the large part of
its Foster Care Program over to
the County Public Welfare Board
MORE MORE MORE
in 1912. 1t kept the guardianship
of some 20 children at that time
in foster homes who had built up
strong ties with members of the
staff.
The changing trends in social
thinking noted above also includ-
ed the attitude toward juvenile
delinquency. Instead of worry
ing about the children in the
jails and prevent them from being
treated as criminals. With the
help of psychiatric clinics and
mental specialists, it was posi-
BILE to achieve this. Now for
every child tried, three have their
problems solved before they
reach the court.
An example from the 1851 case
load shows an adolescent boy
headed for trouble. He was
moody, failing in school, and had
run away from home to live with
another family.
Upon investigation, it was
found that conditions in his own
home gave him good cause to
run away. He was placed under
the care of the League and mem
bers of the staff worked with
him to help him realize that he
had been justified in leaving
home and to accept his new situa-
ton without guilt. He is now
well adjusted and doing excellent
school work.
AS early as 1926 the profes-
SIGNALS recognized that mental de-
ficiency gives rise to number
of social ills, including neglect
of children, juvenile delinquency,
'unWanted and illegitimate chill
dren and insufficient. income. The
staff cooperated with the Mental
Hygiene clinics in the state, until
later when a pSychiatrist was
added to the Leagues profession
al people.
Under Miss Bolton it participant
ed in making plans and develop
ing a fund raising campaign for
a permanent and adequate Men
tai Hygiene Society of Montgom-
cry County to which it now refers
patients beyond its capabilities.
Family cOunseling is the bas'
ic program of tOday's League.
1t is the only agency providing
casework service in the cOun-
ty. CasewOrk is defined as "a
psychOlogicaIly Oriented type of
cOunseling sought at times of
crisis directed towards helping
families and individuals to
make the best possible uses of
their own resources and those
concerned"
The psychiatric social worker
has the knowledge and skill as
well as the warmth of human
kindness to help each troubled
client to his own particular solu
ton.
Whether the need is "a gooC
cry and a cup of tea," an analy
sis at the Mental Hygiene Clinic
on East Montgomery Ave, a fos
ter home, a change of jobs OF
first.aid for a crazy mived-up bud
get, the staff will have the an
SWer.
The Foster Care Program i!
still a part of the counseling serV
ice but only as a temporary an
swer for families working toward
a permanent solution. AS an al
tentative the League has recent
ly begun the Visiting Homemak
err service, the purpose of which
is to hold the home together dur
ing time of crisis on a temporary
basis. The role is handled by
professional who is more than
the usual maid or nurse will
special training in understanding
and dealing with children under
stress.
The Juvenile Court still refer!
some cases to the League but only
on a voluntary basis. The new
principle of payment is what yol
can afford" which means The