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visits to hospitals, etc. The nominal charge is abated when necessary,
and no charge is made to any mother who uses the service
when attending hospital.
Adoption, Foster Parents and Boarding Out
Adoption
One of the most serious social problems of the country today
(although happily of no great moment in this Borough at present)
is the difficulty experienced in the assimilation into society of
coloured immigrants in order that hostility and discrimination may
be avoided.
A corollary to this situation, which is becoming progressively
more important, is that of the settlement of children of differing
racial origins who, for various reasons, are deprived of a family
life.
Responsibility, generally, for the placement of these children
rests with Adoption Societies and with Children's Departments
and, for most adopters, there is an obligation, under Section 3 of
the Adoption Act, 1958, to notify the local authority of their
intention to adopt.
Health Visitors are often in close contact with such children and
in some instances their records are of considerable value to the
Medical Officer when his observations are sought by the various
agencies concerned with adoption.
Foster Parents
In accordance with the Boarding Out of Children Regulations,
1955, the department's observations are also sought with regard
to foster homes listed by the Children's Department into which
children have been placed by the Children's Officer in the course
of his duties.
Boarding Out
On the recommendation of the Chest Physician, arrangements
can be made for the boarding-
out of children exposed to infection
in their own homes or whose parent or parents are receiving
residential treatment for tuberculosis and cannot arrange for the
care of their children. Similar arrangements can be made to enable
segregation to be achieved during immunisation with B.C.G.
Unsupported Mothers
Unsupported mothers were put in touch with Moral Welfare
Workers who, in most cases, arranged for admission to a Mother
and Baby Home during the ante natal period.