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L 5.20:40
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
CHILDREN’S BUREAU
JULIA „C. LATHROP. Chief
A^5Je 6
CHILDREN’S YEAR
CHILDREN’S YE AR
W ORKING PRO G RAM
C H IL D R E N 'S Y E A R L E A F L E T NO. 3
Bureau Publication No. 4 0
PREPARED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
CHILD WELFARE OF THE WOMAN’S COMMITTEE, COUNCIL
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1918
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CHILDREN’S YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
War work on behalf of children has been inaugurated by
Children’s Bureau of the United States Department of Labor
the Child-Welfare Department of the Woman’s Committee of
Council of National Defense.
The President has approved the plans for Children’s Year.
says:
the
and
the
Ho
Next to the duty of doing everything possible for the soldiers at the front,
there could be, it seems to me, no more patriotic duty than that of protecting
the children, who constitute one-third of our population.
The success of the efforts made in England in behalf of the children is evi
denced by the fact that the infant death rate in England for the second year of
the war was the lowest in her history. Attention is now being given to educa
tion and labor conditions for children by the legislatures of both France and
England, showing that the conviction among the allies is that the protection of
childhood is essential to winning the war.
I am very glad that the same processes are being set afoot in this country,
and I heartily approve the plan of the Children’s Bureau and the Woman’s
Committee of the Council of National Defense for making the second year of
the war one of united activity on behalf of children, and in that sense a
children’s year.
The Children’s Year campaign “ To save 100,000 babies and get a
square deal for children ” opened on April 6 with the beginning of a
Nation-wide Weighing and Measuring Test of young children. This
Test, the first step in the larger war-time program, will be carried
out in each State by individuals and organizations cooperating with
the State and local child-welfare committees of the council of defense.
The Children’s Bureau and the Child-Welfare Department of the
Woman’s Committee expect that each community will follow the Test
by some permanent work for the protection of mothers, babies, and
young children, and will undertake some definite activities in relation
to the three other main items in the war-time program, namely:
Home care and income, child labor and education, and recreation.
The President has expressed the hope that Children’s Year “ will not
only see the goal reached of saving 100,000 lives of infants and young
children, but that the work may so successfully develop as to set up
certain irreducible minimum standards for the health, education, and
work of the American child.”
The working program which follows (1) defines the aims of Chil
dren’s Year; (2) enumerates “ community questions” in order to
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indicate the kind of exact information which a committee should
secure as a basis for constructive work; (3) suggests as “ work to be
done” certain practical measures that may be undertaken during
Children’s Year. Few committees will wish to attempt to accom
plish within 12 months all of the work outlined in the program, but
the program will serve its purpose if it leads to a careful review of
the situation and a deliberate plan for meeting, the most pressing
needs of the community in each field of work.
On the other hand, the working program is in no sense a complete
statement of ehild-welfare work. I t is merely an attempt to review
the first essentials for the saving of infant lives and those standards
of protection of older children which are most seriously threatened
in war time.
Many committees will undoubtedly wish to develop in greater
detail than this program calls for some piece of work which applies
especially to their own community. The bureau will be glad to dis
cuss methods of work and details not covered in the following out
line. A special leaflet on follow-up work after the Weighing and
Measuring Test has been prepared.
The first four sections of the program consider the child com
munity as a unit made up of normal children in normal homes. In
most communities there are special problems relating to children
who can not be given proper care in their own homes without special
assistance or who have been deprived of their natural guardians.
The fifth section, on Children in Need of Special Care, is offered as
a possible basis for discussion and action in relation to these special
problems.
In making and carrying out plans for Children’s Year, i f is espe
cially important that the child-welfare committees secure the co
operation of existing agencies, both public and private, which are
already engaged in similar work.
I. PU BLIC PROTECTION OF MOTHERS, INFANTS, AND
YOUNG CHILDREN.
A. IN FA N T »W E L FA R E W ORK.
A i m .— To make available to aU mothers {a) advice about recog
nized methods of caring for their 'babies and themselves, and (b)
the necessary facilities for 'promoting the health of children.
Community questions.
How many public-health nurses are there who give demonstrations
to mothers in their own homes about their own care during pregnancy
and about the care, feeding, and clothing of babies ?
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In what occupations and industries are men earning wages insuffi
cient to enable them to support their families according to a fair
standard ?
How are widowed mothers and their children provided for?
How are separation allowances to soldiers’ families being supple
mented where insufficient?
Why are mothers engaged in gainful work, and what are they do
ing? How many are working? How are their children cared for?
What standards are required of day nurseries ? Are they licensed
and supervised? I f so, by what authorities?
Are employers encouraging or discouraging the employment of
mothers ? What is the attitude of social workers ?
What is the community doing to make information about family
expenditure available?
Work to be done.
Endeavor by every possible means to secure the payment of wages
which meet the cost of a healthy, well-cared-for childhood.
For families from which the father is absent for military service,
see that the separation allowance is secured and that supplementary
funds are provided locally where needed.
For widows with children, secure public pensions sufficient for a
fair standard of living and efficiently administered.
Take whatever steps seem advisable to reduce the number of work
ing mothers to a minimum.
Secure means for training women in budget-making and expendi
ture.
I I I . CHILD LABOR AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
A i m .-—To maintain standards of child-labor and school-attendance
laws under war-time 'pressure until every other possible labor re
source shall have been exhausted.
Community questions.
In what respects are the State child-labor and school-attendance
laws below the highest standards in this country ?
What exemptions are permitted by State law ?
What efforts have been made to secure exemptions because of war
conditions?
How great is the need for special assistance to enable children to
stay in school ?
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How many attendance officers are employed ? Is there a school
census. How is it used to assist in preventing children from going
to work illegally?
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What efforts are made by the officials who issue employment certifi
cates under the State law to prevent unnecessary employment of
children ?
How many factory inspectors are there in the State?
How often are places where children are employed in the com
munity visited by an inspector?
How many prosecutions for violations of child-labor laws were
made in the community during the last year? How many convic
tions were secured ?
Work to be done.
Develop public opinion against the employment of young children
to meet family needs.
See that adequate appropriations are made for the enforcement of
child-labor and school-attendance laws, and that high standards of
training and efficiency are required of school-attendance officers and
factory inspectors.
Prevent the shortening of the school term, and require in all dis
tricts, urban and rural, a minimum term of nine months.
Try to prevent employment of children under 16 away from home
town, or in dangerous or harmful occupations.
Cooperate with other organizations to develop labor resources
other than children (and mothers; compare with II -C ) .
Work for some advance in State legislation and the administra
tion of State laws. (The standards of protection afforded for cer
tain occupations by the Federal Child-Labor Law should be re
garded as a minimum standard for all occupations under the State
law.)
IV . RECREATION.
Aim .—T o provide playgrounds and clubs and other recreational
activities under leaders possessing spontaneity and training.
Community questions.
(a) In a city.
What neighborhoods are there having no play spaces within easy
reach ?
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What organized recreation is provided for outdoor activities in
summer, and for indoor recreational activities ?
Do existing plans include opportunity for development of recrea
tion to meet the needs of the growing community?
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CHILDREN'S YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
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What efforts are made to raise the standard of commercial recrea
tion?
What provision is there for protecting young people from cor
rupting influences?
Is all public and private work for standardizing recreation car
ried on in such a way as to make a coherent program for the com
munity ?
(6) In a rural community.
What efforts have been made to develop group activities for chil
dren and young people?
What kinds of organized athletics are there for boys and for girls ?
Are there suitable meeting places and what leadership is available
for indoor (noncommercial) recreation?
Work to be done.
Emphasize the special importance in war time of sufficient di
versity in recreation for young people and of active rather than!!
passive forms of play.
Make some definite advance during the year in provision for com
munity play.
Develop trained leadership and supplement with volunteer as
sistants.
V. CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPEC IA L CARE.
A.
D EPEN D EN T AND NEG LECTED CHILDREN.
A i m . —To secure in so far as 'possible good home care for each in
dividual child.
Community questions.
What agencies, public or private, are there in the community to
which may be reported cases of dependent or neglected children ?
What efforts are made to keep children in their own homes instead
of sending them to institutions?
What efforts are made to provide home care for homeless children
and for those who must be removed from their own homes?
What standards are required of homes in which children are
placed? Are these enforced by licensing and supervision?
How is the community meeting the problem of the unmarried
mother and her child ?
Work to be done.
'ntain the support and personnel of public and private agencies,
\cies by supplying volunteer workers and other
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CHILDREN % YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
Develop public opinion to understand the need for family care of
dependent children.
Strengthen and promote work for keeping children in their own
homes and providing home care for dependent children.
B.
P H Y SIC A LL Y AND M EN TA LLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
A i m .—
To provide care and treatment adapted to individual needs.
Community questions.
What provision is there for a physically handicapped child: (a)
For the correction of his defect? (b) For special school facilities
or special training?
What provision is there for a mentally defective or subnormal
child: (a) For expert examination of mentality? (b) For special
training? (c) For institutional care if his condition is such that
he can not receive necessary care in the community ?
Work to be done.
Guard against cutting down of appropriations for special care and
training.
Promote constructive work at points where the local situation is
especially weak.
C.
A i m .—
DELIN Q UEN T CHILDREN.
To provide preventive treatment of juvenile delinquency.
Community questions.
What organizations (public or private) or individuals are there in
the community whose business it is to receive reports about children
who are delinquent or in danger of becoming delinquent?
Is there a probation officer (or other social worker) responsible
for the children’s cases that come into court ?
Are children’s cases heard privately and are children kept entirely
apart from adult prisoners both in court and during detention?
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What provision is there for studying the history and needs of
each individual child that comes before the court ?
What trained supervision is provided so that delinquent children
need not be sent to institutions?
Work to be done.
Maintain adequate support and sufficient staff to carry on existing
work, public or private, without lowering standards of work.
Promote constructive work at points where local situation is espe
daily weak.
1 .
Kemedy and prevent conditions in the community thal
nile delinquency.
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CHILDBEDS YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
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How many births are there each year in the community? How
does the number of public-health nurses doing infant-welfare work
compare with the annual number of births ?
What facilities, such as inf ant-welfare and prenatal centers, are
accessible to mothers for medical advice and supervision in the care
of themselves during pregnancy and the care of healthy babies?
Are these adequate in the opinion of those who are doing the work?
In a city, what districts are not provided for? For a rural com
munity in which no center has been opened what centers in near-by
towns are available?
What infant-welfare work, such as is suggested above, is carried
on by the city health department or the county authorities?
Is there a division of child hygiene in the city health department ?
In the State health department ?
How many hospital beds are available for confinement cases?
What possibilities are there for medical and nursing care at con
finement for mothers who can not afford to pay much ?
What proportion of births are attended by midwives ?
What provision is there for the licensing and supervision of mid
wives ? What standards of training are required ?
Has the completeness of birth registration been tested recently?
Work to be done.
Support and increase the work of public-health nurses. Enroll
Home Health Volunteers to assist them. Start public-health nursing
and volunteer work in any community, whether a city or a rural
community, where it has not been attempted.
Carry out as a community activity the Weighing and Measuring
Test.
Support existing infant-welfare and prenatal centers and increase
their number as they may be needed to reach all neighborhoods in a
city and the most remote mothers in rural communities. Start such
work in communities where it has not been attempted.
Make available for all mothers good nursing and medical care at
time of confinement.
Give publicity to the importance of fresh milk in the diet of
nursing mothers and artificially fed babies. (See also I - B .)
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CHILDREN
YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
Make a test of birth registration, if no such test has been made
recently. In any case, try to emphasize the importance of birth
registration; if necessary, secure improved legislation ‘and better
enforcement.
Where practicable, encourage establishment of a municipal or
State division of child hygiene.
B.
A i m .—To
H E A L T H M EA SU R ES FO R YOUN G C H IL D R EN .
'point the special needs of the child of preschool age,
Community questions.
What provision is made for health supervision of children between
infancy and school age by public-health nurses ? B y inf ant-welfare
centers ?
What special measures have been taken during the war to insure
an abundant supply of pure milk?
W ork to be done.
Carry out as a community activity the Weighing and Measuring
Test.
Extend work of infant-welfare centers and public-health nurses
and their volunteer assistants to include all children between infancy
and school age.
Hold children’s health conferences during Children’s Year.
Make provision for permanent children’s health conferences at
regular intervals.
Give publicity to the importance of milk in the diet of children.
C.
EDUCATIO N O F M OTHERS.
A i m .—To make available to every mother information about the
best methods of child care.
Community questions.
How much educational publicity on the care of children is being
carried on, especially through pamphlets, exhibits, and newspaper
articles ?
What public courses for mothers are offered in any local educa
tional institutions?
What local clubs, classes, lectures, etc., help in the education of
mothers with special reference to children under 6 or T years of age?
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CHILDREN S YEAR WORKING PROGRAM.
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What types of mothers are not reached by existing facilities?
iWhat provision is made by the schools, health authorities, or pri-:
vate agencies for the instruction of girls in infant hygiene, as, for
example, through Little Mothers’ Leagues?
W ork to be done.
Distribute free educational material.
Develop public opinion so that mothers will demand instruction
and that special courses will be provided to meet and stimulate that
demand.
Promote school, college, and university extension courses in child
care, home cooking, and household organization.
Promote permanent demonstration centers.
Provide especially, during Children’s Year, short practical courses
for mothers in maternal, infant, and child hygiene.
I I . HOME CARE AND INCOME.
A. HOUSING AND SANITATION.
A i m .— To insure to each child the. home surroundings necessary
for health.
Community questions.1
What sort of houses are available for people of low incomes?
How generally are they equipped with the necessary conveniences
to make easier the work of the housewife?
What are the rentals?
What choice of dwellings do people in the lower income groups
actually have? Is there a house famine? I f so, is it due to lack of
houses or to the bad condition of empty houses ?
What points are covered by the State housing law? By a local
housing ordnance? Do these include separate dwellings as well as
tenements? What provision is made for enforcement of housing
laws and ordinances?
What is the annual appropriation for health work by the board or
department of health ? How much is this per capita of population?
Is a full-time trained executive employed?
Work to be done.
Back the State and local health authorities in their efforts to raise
the standards of sanitation and hygiene.
* In addition to the topics suggested by the questions enumerated, attention might well
Be given to the abundance and purity of the milk supply, to the supervision of markets
and food, and to water, sewerage, garbage disposal, communicable disease, and special
educational work in house hygiene.
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Stimulate interest in adequate public appropriations for health
work and for raising the standards of training required of the staff.
Promote popular courses in house hygiene, expenditure of income,
and similar courses in home economics.
I f there is a lack of houses in proper condition, cooperate with
other organizations in the community to meet the situation.
Other activities will be suggested by the information secured by
the committee about its own community.
B. SPEC IA L N EED S O F OLDER CHILDREN.
A i m .—To provide the special home comforts and protection needed
to safeguard older children.
Community questions.
What are the schools, clubs, or settlements doing to connect the
performance of household duties by children with school or club
work?
What is the community doing to help parents in their efforts to
provide for the home discipline and home recreation of children?
What opportunity is offered by schools and colleges for study of
the special problems of the growing child ?
In considering wage standards and family budgets, how much at
tention is given to the cost of the home comforts that are necessary
for the best protection of the child ?
W ork to be done.
Carry on an educational campaign on the importance and cost of
a fair living standard that includes more than the bare essentials of
subsistence.
Urge starting and extending courses, clubs, or other activities
adapted to local needs by which serious discussion of questions affect
ing home discipline and home recreation may be encouraged.
C. FA M ILY INCOME.
A i m .— To enable mothers to care for their own children at ho-me,
with an income sufficient for family needs.
Community questions.1
How do the lowest wages paid to men in the community compare
with the cost of the things necessary to maintain a fair standard of
living, such as clothing, food, housing, furniture, fuel, light, health,
recreation, car fare, sundries?
1 In addition to the topics suggested by the questions, attention might well he given
to the effect upon child life of such industrial problems as the prevention of accidents,
the promotion of industrial hygiene, workmen’s compensation laws, public employment
agencies, unemployment insurance, standards of hours, and the enforcement of labor laws.
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