London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Table No . 60. Foster Mothers.
| Number of Foster Mothers at 31st December, 1936 | 124 |
| Number of Foster Mothers at 31st December, 1937 | 115 |
| Number of Licenses granted by Council in 1937 | 411 |
| ,, ,, refused by Council in 1937 | 10 |
| Number of applications to take additional children agreed to by Council | 9 |
| „ ,, „ „ „ refused by Council | 2 |
| Number of applications for re-issue of License agreed to by Council | 15* |
| ,, ,, ,, ,, refused by Council | 2 |
Foster Children.
Coming under observation—
Number of Foster Children at 31st December, 1936 196
Number of Foster Children received during 1937 328
Number entered Willesden with their Foster Mothers 13
Total 5371
J In addition 17 mothers took foster children for short periods in most cases during the confinement of the
mother, but did not wish to become registered foster mothers.
* In these 15 cases the licenses were re-issued in respect of new premises.
t The actual number of new individual Foster Children who came under observation was 253.
Removed from observation—
Number given up 294
„ reached the age of 9 years 17
„ died 2
„ legally adopted 9‡
,, ceased to be taken for gain or taken over by Public Assistance
Committee 2
„ left Willesden with their Foster Mothers 10
Total 334
Remaining under observation—
Number of Foster Children at 31st December, 1937—
(a) Under 5 years of age 132
(b) Between 5 and 9 years of age 71
Total 203
} 8 of these were legally adopted by their Foster Parents.
Table No . 61.
The 203 Foster Children under observation at 31st December, 1937, were maintained in the care of Foster Mothers as follows :—
| Maintained by— | |
| Parent or Guardian | 160* |
| Crusade of Rescue, 48, Compton Street, W. | 26 |
| National Adoption Society, 4, Baker Street, W. | 17 |
| Church Army | 0 |
| Received with lump sum | 0 |
| Total | 203 |
* In 35 cases the parent or guardian was living in Willesden at the time the child entered the care of the Foster
Mother.
In 168 of these cases the parent or guardian was not living in Willesden at the time the child entered the care
of the Foster Mother.