Jewish Bureau Aids 492 Needy Children in 6 Months

Four hundred and ninety-two children were placed in institutions, foster homes and hospitals during the six months ending June 30 by the Jewish Children’s Clearing Bureau, one of the ninety-one social agencies affiliated with the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, it was announced yesterday by Herman W. Block, president of the bureau, in his semi-annual report.

Of a total of 1,588 cases, which included 629 pending at the beginning of the year, 1,045 were disposed of, either by placement, reference to various agencies for other action, or discharge, the report discloses. Five hundred and forty-three cases were carried over into this month.

The Hebrew Orphan Asylum accepted 107 children, and 26 in its Boarding-Out Department, according to Mr. Block’s report. The Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society received 30, and its Home Bureau, which corresponds to the Boarding-Out Department, 138. Ten children were placed with the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum, 57 with the Home for Hebrew Infants in the Bronx, and 36 were received by the Children’s Haven of Far Rockaway. The remainder are now cared for by the Godmothers’ League, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Riverdale, and a number of other child-caring institutions. Fifty-two cases were referred to other agencies, among them the Jewish Social Service Association, and the Jewish Board of Guardians, for solution of individual problems other than placement.

The Clearing Bureau, organized in 1922, represents a cooperative attempt on the part of all Jewish child-caring agencies and family welfare societies in the Federation. It investigates applications for placement of Jewish children for long term or temporary care, and determines the disposition of each child in accordance with definite principles of child care in so far as the facilities of the community allow.