Declining Jewish Immigration to U.S. Changes Aid Programs

The steadily declining rate of Jewish immigration into the United States has caused many communities to consider making changes in their immigrant aid programs, the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds says in a report issued here today.

The report summarizes the results of a nationwide survey conducted by the CJFWF in collaboration with the United Service for New Americans with regard to this question. It establishes the following facts:

1. The continued, though reduced rate of Jewish immigration means that some responsibility for immigrant aid by the community will continue. Many of the 7,000 Jewish immigrants expected this year will require some community aid until they can become self-supporting.

2. A substantial number of long-term dependents from previous immigration years, will continue to rely on community assistance/Some of these are “jeopardy” cases where there might be a danger of deportation if they become public charges. Others are aged, sick and families with no breadwinners.

3. Immigration under the Refugee Relief Act, now in effect, is expected to bring in a total of 15,000 Jewish immigrants in the next three years. This figure, even with added regular immigration, is well below the large numbers of immigrants who arrived in the peak post-war immigration years.

Since the Act provides that only families containing employables may be admitted, it is expected that the immigrants who will arrive during the three-year period will make a more rapid adjustment to American life than was previously possible.

TWO-DAY CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS JEWISH HEALTH PROBLEMS

The CJFWF also announced today that it will hold a two-day conference in Philadelphia in September to discuss integration of hospital and Jewish community medical services with other Jewish agencies in the community. The session will also discuss selected practical problems in the development of in-patient and out-patient services, with special attention to Jewish community responsibility for number of beds and other hospital facilities.

The growing need for effective community planning for health and hospital services was cited at a recent meeting of the CJFWF Social Planning Committee. Special subcommittees were authorized to define the responsibility of the Jewish community for health and welfare needs of the Jewish family and emotionally disturbed Jewish children.

Many Jewish health and educational institutions may be able to obtain valuable and needed equipment at a small fraction of the original cost, according to a report by the Social Planning Department of the CJFWF. The report deals with the availability of surplus government property to health and educational institutions and describes the procedure for these institutions to follow.

Hospitals and clinics and full or part-time Jewish schools, including those connected with child care agencies, are eligible to receive the surplus property. Homes with infirmaries or hospital facilities may also apply but only on (He basis of their health programs.

The federal program for distribution of surplus property provides that when a federal hospital, clinic or other facility is discontinued by the government, other federal agencies are notified of the availability of the property. After they have selected what they need the reaminder is declared surplus and is made available to health and educational institutions.