Show Child Welfare Program 0 Offers Many Services By Mrs Katherine M Mason Child Welfare Worker Once again my friend contino contin- ned his questions about the Wel- Wel Welfare Welfare fare Department If the Welfare Wel- Wel Welfare fare Department offers services then what does docs the Child Wel- Wel Welfare We fare Worker do I heard she that takes care of kids Is right light Well yes was my reply but there are many ser ser ser- services vices and programs in the Divi Divi- Division sion of Childrens Children's Services We talked about it along these lines WHAT IS A CHILD Who is a child He is a lump of human clay with 48 chromosomes the gift of life and the potential to tobe tobe be a person How does docs he be come a person With love and affection good food and health education and concern he can be shaped into a human being When one or more of these are lacking he is Most families can provide for children all of the elements nee necessary essary for his growth develop develop- development ment into a responsible adjust ed adult Some families cannot Children are not u r e adults but persons In their own right who will physically be be- be become come adults THE GIFTS of childhood are many when they are properly directed supported and devel devel- developed the child becomes an emotionally adult as wen well as physically WIllIe he is a child he has certain rights and we as members of society have an ob- ob obligation ob to respect and protect those rights Child Welfare is involved in this process through a variety of services Child Welfare offers these services to children and their families They include services to children in their own homes for counseling and supervision protection from neglect o 0 r abuse foster care day care adoption and programs for un- un unmarried nn married parents and their bab bab- bab babies ies THE WORKER operates In ahome a ahome home or with a family by volun volun- voluntary tary agreement or a referral from other sources the schools the county health department the Juvenile court law enforce enforce- enforcement ment agencies or by neighbors or friends What do these services in in- include clude Children in most cases belong In their own homes and have the best opportunity to develop In their own homes Casework or counseling ser ser ser- services vices to either children or par or both in their homes for i truancy overt behavior or par inadequacy are some ba sis for services to children in their own homes Sometimes parental illness re re- re requires quires a homemaker service so the children can remain at home Arrangements for this can be made through the Child Welfare Worker Protective services Is an ever expanding area of the program Now that Utah has a law reo re- requiring quiring reporting of child abuse and protection for the informant this area will increase in the caseload PARENTS who have physically cally abused their children as aswell aswell well as emotionally mistreated them must be reported Invest Invest- gation by the child welfare wor ker into the credence of the reo re- report port is inherent in the job neg neg- neg neglect lect lies in this same category Foster care is a large portion of child welfare activity When a child cannot remain at home for his own protection or devel he is placed in foster care by voluntary agreement or court order Most children in foster care a temporary are ar for family life reo re main a year Children who reo re- remain main longer are In a decreasing proportion Casework service In this pro pro- program gram includes a threefold by the worker with the child his foster parents and his natural parents if possible Recruitment of good homes forthe for forthe the foster care program is a apart apart part of the child welfare war wor keys key's responsibility too Rich homes poor homes middle middle- class a variety of homes is needed to meet the needs of a variety of children The State pays for the childs child's needs in foster care and is al al- al always ways in need of homes Anyone Interested should apply at the County Welfare Office The mir acles wrought from foster care are often remarkable Foster care does often fail with children child child- children ren too It is no panacea but butone butone one way to help heip children Day care is an ever expand expand- expanding ing program There are arc three types family day care for children under two in a group of six or less group day care for the child over two in larger groups and amI special day care facilities for the handicapped physically mentally and emo emotionally to help families cope with their training and pro pro- problems THE STATE of Utah offers a licensing procedure for day daycare care centers to insure good protective care for children We have at present one licen sable day care center In our community Inquiries about lie lieg ensing should be directed to th the Child Welfare Worker Ad is making perman- perman permanent permanent ent arrangements for the par par- parent parent ent who needs a child and the child who needs a parent arent Stu Stu- Stu Studies dies on families who desire to adopt a child are made by the worker Placement of a child in inan an adoptive home can be made by the worker and supervision of this home continues for a year a At present the State of Utah has organized a central match match- matchIng Ing file for available ble children and available adults Adoptive procedures must be processed by the courts either as Inde inde- independent pendent ones or r those through a licensed agency HOMELESS children have a right to a permanent family and adoption is the path for them Services to unmarried par Is a share of the caseload too Unwed mothers need coun concerning their own at at- at attitudes financial and living ar ar- ar arrangements adoption possibilities ies their relationship to the natural father and plans for assumption re-assumption of their lives af- af aftel af tel ter the birth of a child FINALLY the child welfare program is the focus for of several the agencies school the home the church Every child is an overwhelm overwhelm- overwhelming ing responsibility lIe is unique As the members of his body body- arms head legs etc are a apart apart part of his whole being so are all the forces forces which shape his human clay lie He needs to be somebody He is somebody Just as A A Mimes Mime's Christo Christo- Christopher pher Robin grew up so does every child grow To be a per per- person son is his whole job Child Wel Wel- Wel Welfare fare shares in that job Well said my friend our discussions have been enlightening ening I certainly feel better about the job welfare does in our community I hope others inI I do too I |