Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-23
Parent Share Of Cost
OfDeIinquent Asked
Institution Outlay
Huge Shea Tells
Youth Council

The Commissioners Youth
Council today decided to exam
line the possibilities Of legislation
that would require parents Of
Juvenile delinquents committed
to public institutions to share
the cost of their upkeep.
The action was taken on q
Recommendation of Welfare d.
rector Gerard M. Shea, who
pointed out the huge" cost Of
institutional care for these
children.
1t was decided that the study
should be made jointly by the
councils Executive Committee
and the Corporation Counsel's
Office. The study also will in
clude existing laws to determine
whether any may now suffice in
requiring parents to share costs.
/ Mr.. Shea pointed out that the
daily cost for upkeep Of each
delinquent approaches IS. He
said he might not be so con-
cerned If it were not for the fact
that there is mo indication" Of
a decrease in the delinquency
problem.
Sense Of Responsibility
Furthermore" Mr.. Shea said,
II feel it would be important in
helping develop a greater sense
lof responsibility on the part Of
1.-THE parents of delinquents." He
added that parents who would
fail to meet their obligations
should be required to explain
why in court.
| He pointed out that it has
been rather CALLING to welfare
Officials to see some children
ARRIVE at the public institutions
lin Cadillacs and taxicabs."
Celebrating on his concern
over delinquency case loads, the
welfare director said that while
lit is true that delinquency IL
down in some areas of the city
it has been increasing in others.
l"Our institutions are bullying at
the seams" he said.
Statistics on delinquents at
the Children's Center at Laurel
of last December 81 show a total
Iof AS children under public
care. OF these, Mr.. Shea ex-
Iplained, three-fifths came from
only six Of the 26 Youth Council
Ineighborhood areas. These six
sections together are bounded
by Florida avenue, Benning road
and the Potomac and Anacostia
Rivers.
i Stays Extended
Mr.. Shea said that at least his
department has been able to ex-
tend the stay Of delinquents at
the Children's Center to an
average of from seven to nine
months during the past year.
Heretofore the average commit
ment period was no more than
three and half months, he
said.
A report was made on the So
called maximum benefits prof.
ect" in which behavior problem
children are provided special
services in two downtown ele-
mentary schools. Mrs. Nina
Trevvett. council executive di-
! rector, said that all but four
children of a total of AZ under
study have shown some i'm
provement since the project be-
gan last October.
Mrs. Trevvett said this has
resulted from close cooperation
among the large number Of Dis
trict agencies participating.
She warned. however. that "it
now looks as if from third to
one half of all the children in
the project schools need special
help
She conceded that the two
schools. Thomson and Walker
Jones, are in deprived" areas.
j But Judging from the bar
rage of requests from other
schools and other segments Of
1.-THE community all over the city"
she said, this situation is by
no means limited to our project"
"Hot Rod" Program
Mrs. Trevvett added that every
one connected with the project
lis anxious to move as rapidly as
possible into the development
of effective group therapy TECH
niques in the public school
system.
Council Member G. Rowland
Shaw reported that youthful
automobile fanatics in two
areas-American University Park
and Woodbridge Brookland--are
taking steps to get city officials
help in providing facilities for
their hot rod operations. Council
members indicated that when
the teenagers have lined up q
definite program, the youth
group may well intercede with
the District Commissioners to
bring about its adoption.
Mrs. Frank F. Strope was
named chairman of the councils
School Committee.
The next meeting will be held
at $50 pm. April 10, at D. c.
Village. Mrs. Nenry Grattan
Doyle presided over today's