Jewish Community Services Reported Increased Throughout U.S.

Despite continued high cost of operation and a drop in philanthropic contributions, Jewish social welfare agencies throughout the nation increased local services in 1952, it was announced today by Julian S. Freeman, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, Mr. Freeman reported the following highlights:

1. A four percent increase in the number of persons cared for in Jewish homes for the aged, as well as a five per cent gain in the number of heds available in homes. At least 18 communities were adding new facilities for the chronically ill and aged.

2. 20,000 more persons treated in Jewish hospitals than during the previous year.

3. More than 45,000 persons received counseling and aid from Jewish family service agencies. Direct assistance to immigrants dropped 16 percent.

4. An increase of 20 percent in the number of children admitted to child care agencies.

“The advances in social services were made in the face of continued high cost of labor and material and a drop in philanthropic fund raising.” Mr. Freeman stated. “This was made possible by the completion of facilities planned and provided for in previous years.”

In the main, family service agencies and child care institutions depended for their major financial support on philanthropic contributions, particularly from central funds, the CJFWF president reported. Homes for the aged and hospitals derived their major revenue from payments for service, although the homes for the aged also depended to a considerable extent on philanthropic contributions to defray part of the costs. Public funds were a significant source of revenue to the child care agencies, and to some extent to hospitals and homes for the aged.

INCOME OF JEWISH INSTITUTIONS WAS $105,000,000 IN 1952

Funds received for operating purposes by Jewish family service and child care agencies, homes for the aged and hospitals totalled more than $105,000,000 in 1952. Of this amount, $30,000,000 came from philanthropic contributions ($22,000,000 were from central funds-Jewish and non-sectarian-and $6,000,000 from individuals, auxiliaries and miscellaneous sources). The largest amount, $64,000,000, came from payment for service while public funds paid directly to agencies and institutions amounted to $9,000,000. The remainder came from investments and other sources.

General hospitals under Jewish auspices continued to maintain high standards of medical care and service to the entire community, according to the CJFWJ report During 1952, a total of 413, 679 people were cared for in 38 of the reporting hospitals, 20,000 more than in 1951. The number of days of hospital care increased by nearly three percent to 3,706,896. Approximately 20 percent of this figure represents care given without charge. Jews comprised nearly half of all patients admitted to the hospitals.

With the decline in immigration–7,200 in 1952 as compared with almost 32,000 in 1948–Jewish family service agencies reported a drop in the number of new Americans in their caseloads. This enabled the agencies to devote greater attention to counseling native born families with marital, parent-child or personal difficulties. According to the CJFWF report, more than 45,000 cases were served by 68 reporting agencies in 1952.

The drop in immigration also has resulted in a reduction of almost 16 percent in direct assistance to the newcomers, with 56 agencies reporting total expenditures of $2,736,786 in 1952.