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83 [1937
SOUTH ISLINGTON MOTHERS' AND BABIES' WELFARE CENTRE.
Centre, 6, Clephane Road, N.l.
" Rose " Branch, 15, Popham Road, N.l.
Canonbury Branch, held at 100, Canonbury Road, N.l.
The number of Mothers and children attending the Clinics during 1937 has
increased in spite of some fall in recent years in the estimated population in the
Centre's district. This points to an ever-growing appreciation among the Mothers
of the advice they can obtain from the Centre Doctors ; from the Health Visitors
and home visits.
The recent practice of sending periodic cards of invitation to children between
two and five years old, who have not attended recently, has helped to maintain
the attendance of the toddlers until they go to school.
The Garden School, which was started in June, 1937, and is held from 9.30 to
11.30 each morning, has filled a real want and has helped both the health and
character training of many difficult children whose home conditions were not giving
them a fair start.
The Centre's Convalescent Cottage has been full during the season and the
holidays there have proved most beneficial to the health of Mothers and babies,
and have also given the Mothers practical lessons in the care of their babies. The
Centre has also been able to obtain convalescent treatment for one month or longer,
if necessary, for 93 delicate children between 2½ and 5 years old.
Much conservative work is done by the Centre's Dentist for the Mothers' teeth
and, when necessary, the Mothers are helped with the cost of dentures. They are
urged to bring their toddlers for regular dental inspection.
The dinners, which the Centre provides through the Invalid Kitchens for
necessitous expectant and nursing Mothers, have been much appreciated by the
Mothers, especially as the Kitchens are able to provide a well-balanced meal or any
special diet recommended by the Doctors.
The Committee much appreciate the practical benefits resulting from having
a representative co-opted on to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee of the
Council and are very glad of the helpful co-operation of the Council's representatives
on the Centre's executive Committee.
EAST ISLINGTON MOTHERS' AND BABIES' WELFARE CENTRE.
Centre, 32, Drayton Park, N.5.
Branch, at Highbury Quadrant Mission Hall, Hurlock Street, N.5.
The work during the year has been one of increased activity. A Child Guidance
Clinic was started in September as an experimental piece of work under the auspices
of the Child Guidance Clinic, by whom Dr. Mildred Creak was appointed to undertake
research into the frequency of behaviour problems in infants and toddlers.
The work of a Child Guidance Clinic lies with those children who have failed
to make a satisfactory adjustment at home or at school, or who are behaving in
society at large in an anti-social manner. So often a long history lies behind such
trouble, going back to babyhood, when the child was already "difficult to handle."
By getting early access to the home conditions, Dr. Creak hopes to learn how far it
is possible to prevent the problem baby becoming the problem child.