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30
During the year under review -
157 cases were dealt with by the Social Worker;
46 cases were admitted to Hostels;
6 cases were temporarily accommodated at Glazier House
(The Croydon Home of the Moral Welfare Association)
The Committee agreed to meet financial responsibility for
the stay of unmarried mothers in Mother and Baby Homes fori
period of three months except for girls up to 18 years of age,
for whom the period would be extended to cover a total of sii
months and such assistance was given in 31 cases. These younger
mothers would normally go to Homes specialising in their care.
None of the 4 deaths of illegitimate babies occurred with mothers
dealt with under these arrangements.
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES
Infant Welfare Centres.
The usual details regarding attendances are given in the
Appendix, page 105. A new centre was opened towards the end of
the year to serve the Gravel Hill area of New Addington. It is
an interesting observation on the need for such centres that the
demand may come from the mothers concerned. This was a case in
point as letters criticising the delay in opening the clinic
came from the Tenants' Association representing the area.
No doubt stimulated by group discussion sessions with the
Psychiatrist from the Child Guidance Clinic, the Medical Officers
and Health Visitors have been developing this technique of education
in their own Infant Welfare Centres. Films and film strips
have been used as the method of introducing a topic and good
responses have been forthcoming on most occasions.
Welfare Foods
The W. V. S. continued issues from the central distribution
centre for welfare foods and kept it staffed throughout the year,
all day on week-days and on Saturday mornings, and I would pay
tribute to their most efficient working of this service. The
store built at the health department enables the distribution of
supplies to the infant welfare centres to be carried out by our
own transport and staff. This greatly assists the work of the
volunteers who deal with the issue of these foods at all the
centres. Total issues made during the year were:-