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PROBLEM FAMILIES
The problem of neglectful parents is receiving more attention
nowadays, and increasing efforts are being made to rehabilitate such
families. The symptoms frequently present themselves as child cruelty
and child neglect, and it is often the case that the parents, particularly
the mothers, are found to be apathetic, unstable and mentally retarded.
Social Workers face a difficult task in attempting to reform the parents
because the cause is often ingrained and deep rooted, but every effort
is made to spare the children from the worst effects of their distressing
home environment. In most cases it is best to keep the family together,
but occasionally the children have to be taken into care. The problems
of such parents require sympathetic handling and Health Visitors and
Home Helps endeavour to improve matters by educating mothers in
their own homes in home making, child care, cooking, cleaning laundry
sewing and household budgeting.
The work is time consuming and frequently there is little enough
to show for the efforts made by the many Social Workers that may be
involved in any particular case.
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