Ch. 3
Pg. 4
THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU
ulia Lathrop from Chicago's Hull House was named to head the U.S. Children's Bureau in 1912. Initially, the Children's Bureau's role was limited to conducting research and collecting data on children's issues. One of the first studies undertaken by the new organization was of maternal and infant mortality. Armed with statistics showing a shockingly high rate of maternal deaths, bureau workers began a campaign for programs to directly address the problem.
The Sheppard-Towner bill was introduced in 1918 by Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin. Ms. Rankin was the first congresswoman in the U.S. Congress and a social worker. The proposed legislation provided funds to local health departments for maternal and infant health services and after considerable opposition from conservative legislators was finally signed by the president in 1921. This legislation was so successful that funding, initially due to expire in 1927 was extended for an additional two years. When the act  finally expired in 1929, there were more than 3,000 local programs and maternal and infant mortality rates were significantly improved.

The Children's Bureau even made an impact in rural communities
The Widow's Pension
n important recommendation of the 1909 White House Conference On Children was that most children should be cared for in their own home as opposed to the all to common practice of removing children from the homes of poor single parents.  Reformers led by leaders from juvenile courts, Children's Bureau, settlement workers and some members of charity organizations began the campaign for what was then known as a widow's pension. As was often the case, the argument for this reform frequently waved the twin banners of efficiency and economy.

We are paying more for a child's care in an asylum or orphanage than it would cost to pay the mother to take care of her children at home.
Judge Julian Mack of the Chicago Juvenile Court.

In 1911, Missouri enacted the first widow's pension. By 1919, 39 states had similar programs.

"Far from the fresh air farm" by William Glakens