Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
Page 5
What is the Federation?
By EDWARD M. KAHN, Executive Director
i< ration is the Jewish Com-
st of Atlanta. It guides and
,,, r t the organized social service
of Atlanta Jewry. The only
rl agency outside the Federa
tion is the Hebrew Orphans’ Home,
t regional institution covering
Southeast. So far as At-
s child care problems are con
cerned the Federation maintains cor-
> operative relations with the
a-ed on a working agreement
where, in the proper joint cases, the
n cares for the adults and the
.ihsidizes the minor children.
Federation is made up of the
lowing constituent agencies, which
n as departments of the Federa-
der the direction of the Execu-
tivc Director:
The Montefiore Relief is the family
e and Social Service Department
of the Federation.
Morris Hirsch Clinic is the
health agency of the Federation.
Morris Lichtenstein Free Loan
is the small loan and self-support
Fund of the Federation.
The Jewish Educational Alliance is
Recreational and Educational
of the Federation. Its activi-
c those of a Jewish Center.
117iy a Federation?
dations with the Community
Chest organized Jewish Welfare can
ak and act as a unit.
Federation coordinates the w'ork
Social Service activities in a com-
| mtinity.
' It avoids the elements of duplication
and waste.
It reduces overhead.
It organizes the community and can
specific problems from the
ndpoint of the welfare of the
entire community.
' - hr the Objectives of a Jewish
Federationf
e organized charities it natur-
and properly deals first with
aspects of Jewish community
which present maladjustments
• sort or another, dependency,
-c, delinquency, and behavior
;t< dilcms.
3.
hen there was an endless stream
emigration into this country the
edial aspects of Federation work
rhed all the energy and atten-
"f community leadership. Al-
"'Jgh still very important, the
rative work is gradually giving
to more constructive Jewdsh
efforts.
s e efforts are concerned with
denis of Jewish education, with
cultural development of the
h group, with character build-
f the Jewish youth of a com-
y Jewish group consciousness
the ability to participate in
tently in common action be-
•e prime factors in the upbuild-
f a sound and wholesome Jew
ish life.
'■wish Federation must be able
operate with the general com-
;t . v in matters affecting the so-
ua ‘ we lfare of the entire community.
4. It should have the prestige and in
fluence of the Jewish group behind
it and be able to speak for and rep
resent the social welfare interests
of the Jewish community on the
outside.
5. The Federation should have the
vision and the leadership for plan
ning and organizing all the social
service efforts of the Jewish com
munity.
6. The Federation must stand for the
development of sound social service
standards and practices.
How’ have we measured up to
these objectives here in Atlanta?
We must confess that we are just
now beginning to emerge from the
first stage of relief as the only ob
ject of the Federation. We see al
ready the importance of a preven
tive program and are thinking in
terms (though theoretically as yet)
of construction. We have made con
siderable progress in the develop
ment of a sounder social service
technique and higher standards of
work. But we are far from our goal
as yet. Ours is an uphill struggle
which requires, nay demands, the
support and cooperation of every
Jew in our community.
The Montefiore Relief
In keeping with the objectives of
present-day family welfare agencies
relief has not been stressed as the
most important element in the pro
gram. Relief is necessary in an emer
gency. It is first aid and no more.
Far more important is the diagnosis of
the causes and the attempt at rehabili
tation. Here is where intelligence and
training become of primary importance.
No social worker can render adequate
service to a family without an intelli
gent application of principles and prac
tices of social case work, without the
exercise of tact, discrimination, and a
fine sensitiveness which translates sym
pathy into concrete, practical accom
plishment. In the final analysis it is
the influence of personality upon a
family which spells success or failure
in very many cases. Of course no so
cial worker can work miracles, although
they sometimes do. There must be
found adequate community resources,
proper environmental conditions, and a
sound psychology. These are the tools
which a trained social worker must
manipulate.
The Social Work of the Federation
is undifferentiated. It includes every
specialty—family welfare, child care,
delinquency, psychiatric social work
and whatever else there is.
Statistical Statement for Year 1929
During the past year the Relief De
partment of the Federation had under
its care the following cases:
Major care, relief cases, 58 families
and individuals. Major care service
cases, 70 families and individuals, or a
total of 128 families, involving 390 in
dividuals. Of these, 201 were children
and 189 adults.
During 1929 171 transients were as
sisted with meals, lodging, and trans
portation in proper cases. This num
ber included quite a number of tran
sient families.
1 he Federation cooperated with
other cities by conducting 27 investi
gations for out-of-town agencies.
The foregoing figures do not include
incidental service cases of advice, etc.,
of which no records were made.
Problems of the Relief Department
Briefly, I shall enumerate a few of
the outstanding problems which con
fronted us during the past year:
1. The precarious economic status of
our local Jewish grocers and other
small business men. This may in
time become a very serious prob
lem and should he given attention
and thought in connection with the
reorganization of the capital funds
of the Free Loan Fund.
Fdward M. Kahn
2. The health situation remains a ma
jor cause for family breakdown eco
nomically. The problem of hospi
talization is a nightmare to most
families in moderate financial cir
cumstances. The need for a Jewish
hospital should once again be given
serious consideration.
3. The problem of employment and
placement is an important matter.
We must secure the cooperation of
Jewish employers of labor so that
we may develop a more adequate
placement service.
4. Vocational training and opportu
nities. This, to my mind, is the
most important problem of all. Boys
particularly, and many girls for that
matter, drift into blind-alley occu
pations requiring no skill and lead
ing no w f here. This may prove very
costly to the community, when the
boy grows to manhood, follows in
stinct, marries, brings a family into
being, and ultimately becomes a
charge upon the community. The
matter concerns community re
sources for vocational and industrial
training and proper vocational guid
ance. I would recommend the for
mation of a Federation Committee
on Vocational Guidance which
should secure the cooperation of the
Council of Jewish Women in mak
ing a local survey of the extent of
the need for vacational training
among the Jewish boys and girls of
Atlanta.
Proposed Organisation of Jewish Social
Service Bureau
The old method of doling out re
lief is dead. The old practice of re
quiring applicants to appear in person
and plead their cause is buried, never
to be resurrected. New methods, new
practices require new forms of organi
zation. A Relief or Social Service
Board should guide the work by con
cerning itself with problems of com
munity resources, community attitudes
toward relief, ways and means of reha
bilitating clients by establishing them
in business, etc. The amount and kind
of relief is an administrative matter to
be guided by the adoption of a scien
tific standard, family budget. The pres
ent relief board has rendered yeoman
service. The Executive Director has
differed with many of their members
on matters of policy and principle, but
he recognizes the value of their con
sistent interest, their willingness to
give time, and to render service accord
ing to their ability. Many of the pres
ent members of the Relief Board have
been active in its counsel for many
years. They have accumulated a wide
knowledge of the families and their
problems. We want to utilize that
knowledge to the best interest of the
work. Nevertheless, we want to widen
the scope of usefulness of the Relief
Board. We want a broader horizon to
guide our social service policy. We
need and should interest other groups
in the community, especially women’s
groups, in the work of social service.
Therefore, in accordance with these
views, and in keeping with the best
practices of Federations throughout the
country, I recommend that the present
Relief Board be reorganized and that
a Jewish Social Service Bureau be or
ganized as a department of the Federa
tion. This Bureau to be under the di
rection of the Federation, but its per
sonnel be representative of all the ele
ments in the community.
Morris Lichtenstein Free Loan Fund
The Free Loan Fund is a branch of
the Federation. The policy of operat
ing it as a part of the Relief has been
abandoned as unsound. An attempt has
been made to enforce business stand
ards, with the human element not taken
out but in the center, in granting loans
and in collecting loans. During the
past year we have been more success
ful in conserving the resources of this
fund and gathering in its assets.
During 1929, without any addition to
the capital fund, but from collections
only, the Fund was able to lend $1,250
in sums varying from $50 to $150 each.
To prevent would-be clients of the
Relief from becoming actual clients,
the capital fund of the Free Loan
should be increased. Strict business
methods should continue in the opera
tion of this Fund.
(Continued on Page 11)