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29
MENTAL DEFECTIVES.
Work of the Voluntary Association
The Council's duties under the Mental Deficiency Act of
"ascertaining" and "supervising" mental defectives in the
Borough are carried out by the Essex Voluntary Association in return
for a grant. The Association also investigates, makes enquiries,
and reports for the information of the Visiting Justices on
the home conditions of defectives under Order. Similar reports on
defectives whose parents have applied for discharge, or on those
on leave of absence, etc., are made by the Association for the
Council for submission to the Board of Control.
The East Ham Education Committee now employ the Association
to visit, befriend, and report on feeble-minded children
between 7 and 16 years of age so that the arrangements in the
Borough for ascertainment under the Mental Deficiency Act would
be complete were there to be a scheme for the Association to be
notified of defectives receiving poor relief and those leaving the
Guardians' care.
The lack of institution accommodation for East Ham defectives
is creating a serious condition of affairs both for defectives
and the community. There is a list of several urgent cases now
awaiting custodial care.
After 12 years' operation of the Mental Deficiency Act it is
apparent that many defectives can be quite safely and happily
boarded out in small households. It is also apparent that many
defectives, after a year or two in an institution, may safely and
satisfactorily come out on leave of absence either to their own
friends or to the care of kindly and capable foster parents. Leave
of absence may be extended indefinitely if progress is satisfactory,
or immediately cancelled if the defective does not do well.
The Voluntary Association is submitting the names of suitable
persons to act as foster parents for defectives recommended
for boarding out.
The Association's centre for defective children held in St.
Michael's Institute, and the Handicraft Class for older boys and
men at St. Barnabas Church Room are making steady headway.