Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/805

 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 79 l

them," are to be provided. The trustees may, at their discre- tion, find family homes for them. 1

In the two states of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania we find the system of boarding out children along with placing out as found in the several states just noticed. In Pennsylvania chil- dren of sound mind are not to be retained in the almshouse longer than sixty days. It is the duty of the overseers of the poor to place them in some educational institution or home, or with some respectable family. When placed out, they are to be visited at least once in six months and reports made to the overseers or other persons having charge of the poor. 2 Counties are also authorized to establish industrial homes. 3 As a matter of fact, most of the overseers have placed the indigent children in the care of the Pennsylvania Children's Aid Society, by which they are boarded with families at public expense. As a rule, the chil- dren are regularly adopted after a few months and thus secure permanent homes. 4

Massachusetts has " state dependent children " and "town dependent children." The state charges are foundlings and those without a town settlement. The town charges are those having a town settlement. The state charges are under the guardianship of the state board of lunacy and charity. Deserted and destitute infants, until three years of age, are cared for at state expense (not to exceed $4 per week) at St. Mary's Infant Asylum, or, at the discretion of the state board, are boarded with private families. The non-resident dependents, from three to fourteen years of age, are committed to the state pri- mary school, from which they may be placed or boarded out, or are boarded out directly. The expense incurred in boarding such children is not to exceed $2 per week. These state charges, when placed or boarded out, are to be visited by the

1 " The trustees may, when, in their opinion, the best interests of any inmate would l>e subserved thereby, secure homes for any of them in private families upon such terms as they may agree upon, reserving the right to replace such children in thr home if they shall deem it for their best interests."

'47, p. 1020. '48, p. 1020.

<See Report of A'. ('. C. ('., 1894, p. 130.