After-care Society Helps 192 Cases

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 10

After-care Society Helps 192 Cases

The resignation of Mrs D. M. McCulloch, social worker for the Christchurch Special Class After-Care Society since accepted with regret, said September, 1961, had been the executive of the society in its annual report this week. Mrs McCulloch’s position had been filled by an experienced social worker. Mrs M. Gilmore, who reported that the number of active cases on the files of the year ended March, 1965, was 192. Home visiting, getting in touch with employers, and keeping records had formed the basis of the work.

During the year 25 new cases were referred to the society. Of these, 21 were school leavers, two were referred by the Child Welfare Division, one by the Probation Office and one by the Psychological Service. There were 15 members of the society at the Sheltered Workshop, eight boys and seven girls, two being admitted since the beginning of the year. Three youths were admitted to Sunnyside Hospital, two for treatment, and one for observation.

During the year 17 young people had been placed in employment by the social worker. Of these, three were from the Sheltered Workshop. Visits to personnel officers and managers of factories continued, said Mrs Gilmore. Most were sympathetic and willing to help where possible, but fewer suitable positions seemed to be available.

The society's five evening and Saturday morning classes continued to instruct in basic numbers and reading. Varying degrees of progress by the 70 pupils attending were reported. This work was of tremendous value and often went a long way towards making these people more confident in their daily living and working, the executive said. As the number of children involved in the work experience scheme increased, new places of employment would be necessary. Improvement in the children of the three intermediate special classes, the main users of the scheme, was very pleasing. Teachers were able to provide help which would otherwise not be avail-

able to the children once they left school. Officers elected were: chairman, Mr D. F. Stewart; dep-uty-chairman, Mr R. I. Archibald; secretary-treasurer, Mr J. R. Brown; committee, Mesdames M. G. Ashley and B. B. Blackmore, Messrs E. Carter, L. J. Coughlan, V. Puke. B. Rich and the Rev. Brother Thaddeus.