THE FAMILY in the extreme dependence of the child upon the parent. The end results of this tionship we find in the adult neurotics, where we discover evidences of an early daughter or mother-son dependence which has continued to exert its inte throughout the life of the individual and which has through its unconscious determined the choice or non-choice in marriage with its consequent unhapp satisfactions and the resulting train of neurotic symptoms. It is thus pertinent that we recognize in the adjustments of these children necessity for the early establishment of a well balanced relationship which pe the possible individual growth and gradual emancipation of the child. longe to sh child later satis Wor tion and We are led further to recognize that in the relationships that exist be ho children in the same family, situations may arise which furnish food for dissatisfactio Consider, for example, the problem of the eldest child, if perchance he has bee sole interest of fond parents for a period of four or five years; the advent of anothe child in the family furnishes a distinct insult to his ego, and he finds that he make some fairly radical adjustments to the new scheme of things. We are next led to consider the problems of the middle child, who perforce con pares himself with the eldest, to whom falls the recognition of superior age and kne edge with its concurrent responsibilities in matters of conduct among the othe: including himself, in consequence of which he conceives his position as being that's the under dog and less enviable; then, too, he finds that in his relationship ⠀ the youngest there is much to be desired, for does not he (the youngest) receive greate care and attention than was ever accorded to him (the stepchild as he comes believe) ? In the study of the cases belonging to this group it is essential that we set the motive behind the conduct, and often we will be forced to recognize that t utilization of this behavior is a distinct means by which the child puts himself across for he finds that through this display of conduct he does receive attention, and we must recognize that it is attention of one kind or another for which we all blind strive. se al h in In the problem of the youngest child we have two forces at work: First, the As the second potent force at work in the successful adjustments of this youngest ** be needed in the world." It is the task of the social worker in these problems ow the parent a happier means of gaining satisfaction and by so doing free the from a possible fixation at a level which will tend to prevent his functioning in life as a successfully integrated individual. Another powerful source of disaction in the home is the problem of sex. What then are some of the principles of treatment that must be employed by the er in meeting these problems in the home? In a consideration of these problems of misconduct arising from the dissatisfacis emanating from the home the question naturally comes to your mind, If it is the e environment which is responsible, why not move the child into new surroundings give him a chance? On the surface this would appear the simplest solution, but there are some very ious objections to this method of treatment, in consequence of which it should and ways be reserved as the last resort: first, it may always be possible to readjust the name situation through the education of the parents and the child; second, by retainde dig and adjusting the child in his home surroundings you assist and educate him to on of supergake a more difficult adjustment in life rather than accept a simple solution; third, at any removing the child from his home into surroundings possibly higher in the economic sposition scale you must always bear in mind the possibility of his return at some time in that in his mine future; if this should come about you will have furnished him the necessity of e youngest making a twofold adjustment, often accompanied by a new dissatisfaction, that of stepchild she low economic standards of his family. Further in the consideration of the principles of the treatment we conceive as is essential tone of prime importance the problem of education through an attempt to cultivate to recoin the child better habits of adaptation to the realities of life. id puts hims Another great problem of education is that of teaching the parents of the child. attention. They must be made to realize that in order to train the child they must first train which we themselves, for from the viewpoint of social psychiatry true education involves every member of the immediate household. They must be made to realize that their personal at work: F sentiments may seriously hamper the child's development, inasmuch as they are bound mbers of thi to fail to hold an objective impersonal viewpoint in meeting the issues in the child's a brother, everyday life if they make decisions according to their subjective feelings rather than mer. lie though objective reasoning. this satis y turn: t ority whi will ofte ld in t tion th epithets not conducive to the magnification of his ego; then too there is the child who is the smallest of the group, and whom the others may habitually put it ove on-he may be satisfied with the rôle for a time, but gradually the spirit of resentment may creep in and the worm slowly turns, and he will react to this situation in an asocial manner, often taking out his irritation on a still younger group or brother or sister. Through this sketchy outline of possible sources of maladjustment arising from neighborhood conditions again it will be seen that the problem resolves itself into one of education. Who is better fitted to cope with this situation than the worker who has the opportunity of knowing these groups and observing the child in his original setting? Through the establishment of new interests and recreational outlets the worker will often be able to displace the old sources of dissatisfaction and furnish new constructive interests of a happier sort. The third great source of dissatisfaction is to be found in the school life of the child. First, the child may be faced with failure. Through lack of equipment this problem has for a long time been a well recognized field for social intervention; the second source of failure in school progress with its concurrent dissatisfaction may be the loss of time through illness; third, the child may fail to use his native equipment to the maximum either through bad habits of study or disinterest on the part of the teacher or parents. In conclusion, what shall we conceive as the broad aim of every social worker? She must first obtain a full knowledge of the principles of mental hygiene. From this knowledge will come a broader insight. It is then the special task of the worker dealing with these problems to translate this insight into influence; through the medium of this new-found influence to assist the parents in gaining a broader vision, to enable them to be more open-minded, less bound down by tradition, to create in them a willingness to let the child grow and develop in surroundings that do not tend to repress and confine him. Through this new parental understanding the child may be permitted to work out his problems with the assistance of a co-operating household. Secondly, through this influence the social worker may assist the teacher to recognize the problem of the growing child, so that she may see that education fails when it is confined only to the realms of education; expressed in terms of physical and intellectual development, each child must be given an opportunity to gain selfexpression, that he be free to develop his own individualism in the intellectual sphere rather than to expect to turn him out at the end of his school career stamped with the trade mark of the general mold. Through the efforts of the social worker the teacher must be furnished with some understanding of the numerous pitfalls await the growing adolescent child, tossed about on the restless tide of his emotions, an this understanding the teacher herself may be enabled to furnish constru and guidance. The worker should conceive as her fundamental task that of furnishing with whom it is her privilege to work a better understanding of himself and his to the family and his associates. And further we should conceive as our aim in even ful examination of all the elements entering into of this knowledge we should attempt the recons f misconduct the Through the med. I a S recognizing that no concrete rules of the game can be laid down, for each case requires a specific plan of action, fitted to the especial needs as determined through the careful study of each individual case. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A FAMILY AGENCY AT A TIME OF Stockton Raymond, General Secretary, Family Welfare Society, Boston The primary purpose of family social work is the promotion of sound family life. Such evils as ignorance, unrighteousness, poverty, and disease are attacked at the most strategic point-the home-by promoting the opportunity and incentive for education, health, recreation, industry, and spiritual development. aiting t ad throug active be g the chil his relatin t the car he medium vironment Seventy-five years ago in Massachusetts persons unable to care for themselves were farmed out to whoever would provide for their physical needs at the least cost to the community. Today family social work is essentially constructive. It seeks not only relief but prevention and more than either of these the development of capacity. Every family has both assets and liabilities-is both rich and poor. Family social work on the negative side seeks the relief of distress and protection against hazards; on the positive side the development of assets. The attitude is that of a father toward his son. It combines protection against adverse conditions with opportunities and incentive for the development of capacity. As the family agency stresses more and more positive values it finds itself inevitably concerned with social and industrial conditions. Sound family life is dependent upon regular employment, a living wage, good industrial conditions, and leisure time for recreation, family duties, and self-expression. The family agency must recognize the relationship between case work and industrial standards. Certain specialized agencies have been charged with failure in their treatment of the individual to consider the welfare of the entire family group. There is great danger that the family agency, engrossed by intensive work with families, may fail to recognize the relationship between case work and the larger aspect of the industrial situation. This must not be. Young workers are coming to the family agencies full of interest in social conditions. Case work must be done in such a way as to increase rather than diminish that interest. Unemployment, violent reduction in wages, decreasing prices, and frequent labor controversies are the factors in the present industrial situation which most seriously affect family life. All of them except decreasing costs result in applications to the family agency. Under such circumstances what is the responsibility of the family agency? First, it must maintain own standard of work; second, it must square its policies with the social and ituation; third, it must interpret its everyday experience lly to conditions more favorable to the full develop THE FAMILY to swamp the agency. Resources exist for dealing with the unemployed as long as there are enough jobs to go around, and with the underpaid when there is reasonable opportunity to find work more adequately compensated. Even the striker can be dealt with when it is possible for him to find work in some employment which is not involved in the strike. As long as jobs are obtainable at a living wage, the unemployed, underpaid, and strikers have the power to solve their fifficulties, and thus the process of adjustment may be approached from a case work ungle without unfavorable effect upon industrial standarris. But an entirely different situation crists at xime of industrial depression, when unemployment is widespread because there are our few obs to go around, when the maderpaid has no alternative except memployment, and wine to work for the striker is available in industries not affected by the anke Indier these circumstances the standards of the family agency are imperiert vu waache of applications with which it is without the resources to deal. The ety of individual adjustment but lies in the industrial and economic Tea trey on the control either of the individuals involved or of the family agency. Shall the family agency accept applications me o noustrai factors beyond its control, or that of the individuals concerned, with wer is without the means to cope successfully? The answer to this question noves sous fifficulties. Can such applications be accepted without impairment staat Will refusal to accept them involve useless suffering? Will refusal sut the siment of emergency relief organizations which will be badly adminsterer Static acceptance be conditioned upon adequate public support and a bona fire sur y de community to deal in a constructive way with the problem involved Is a poble agency exist which should assume responsibility? Should applications at in order to secure first-hand information which may lead to progress a wing with the problem? Will refusal to accept applications occasion the loss if sport ssary to conduct the usual work of the agency? In general, it may be suit that applications due primarily to industrial factors should not be accepted unless public support sufficient to maintain standards is assured, and at the same time an excest effort is made by the community to deal constructively with the protiems volved. The family agency, if it attempts to deal with the unemployed, the underpaid, and the strikers, must square its policies with the larger aspects of the situation. It may be useful to state some of the principles which should govern the inmily agency in formulating these policies. To supplement regularly the wages of worker employed on full time tends to undermine industrial standard the pressure for a living wage. To provide material assistance for died relieves industry of a responsibility which it should be encouraged aid a striker aligns the agency definitely on the side of the strike wit its merits. Unemployment, underpayment, and strikes are economica problems and must be treated as such. The ad underpayment, and strikes requires regular acceptable method for the settlement of in at a time of industrial readjustment, are c family social agency. It is often sound c weakened because of unemployment to acce this policy cannot be justified from the poin ng which ∙nds stan stan dep Con une att has be CO be an ti g T d |