"a99395de-588f-4144-b1dc-ba078516223c"@en . "CONTENTdm"@en . "REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46."@en . "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198"@en . "Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia"@en . "British Columbia. Legislative Assembly"@en . "2016"@en . "[1947]"@en . "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0332428/source.json"@en . "Foldout Chart: MOTHER'S ALLOWANCES BRITISH COLUMBIA"@en . "application/pdf"@en . " PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA\nAnnual Report of\nThe Social Assistance Branch\nof the\nDepartment of the Provincial Secretary\nFor the Year ended March 31 st\n1946\nVICTORIA, B.C. :\nPrinted by Don McDiaemid, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.\n1947. Victoria, B.C., November 25th, 1946.\nTo His Honour C. A. Banks,\nLieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia.\nMay it please Your Honour :\nThe Annual Report of the Social Assistance Branch for the year ended March 31st,\n1946, is herewith respectfully submitted.\nGEORGE S. PEARSON,\nMinister of Health and Welfare.\nOffice of the Minister of Health and Welfare,\nParliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. Social Welfare Branch,\nVictoria, B.C., November 25th, 1946.\nThe Honourable G. S. Pearson,\nMinister of Health and Welfare, Victoria, B.C.\nSir,\u00E2\u0080\u0094I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Social Assistance\nBranch for the year ended March 31st, 1946.\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient servant,\nE. W. GRIFFITH,\nDeputy Minister of Welfare. TABLE OF CONTENTS.\nAssistant Director of Welfare\t\nChild Welfare Division\t\nCollector of Institutional Revenue\t\nFamily Service\t\nMedical Services Division\t\nMothers' Allowances\t\nOld-age Pension Board\t\nResearch Consultant\t\nSocial Allowances\t\nPage.\n... 9\n_ 13\n... 24\n... 29\n... 31\n... 32\n... 39\n... 50\n... 51 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH.\nVictoria, B.C., November 21st, 1946.\nE. W. Griffith, Esq.,\nDeputy Minister of Welfare.\nSir,\u00E2\u0080\u0094I have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report of the Social Assistance\nBranch for the year ended March 31st, 1946. Following the procedure of last year the\nreports of the various divisions comprising the Social Assistance Branch will be found\nin the pages following.\nIt is not my intention to deal in detail with the report of any particular division,\nas the heads of divisions will have drawn attention to the items particularly referring\nto their administrations. I should, however, like to make a few comments of a general\nnature.\nThe year under review has been momentous in that after six years of war and\nhaving disposed ourselves to meet the problems engendered thereby, we find ourselves\ncoping with other difficulties arising after the cessation of hostilities. During the war\nyears employment opportunities were presented as probably never before in our history.\nThese were readily grasped by many partially employable persons who previously were\nin receipt of some form of assistance. The demand for workers being so great, considerable number of teen-age children found the lure of a pay envelope stronger than\ncontinuing their education, and many wives and mothers whose main interests had\nheretofore been in caring for their homes and families accepted employment. Such\nopportunities for these types of persons are naturally not now so numerous. The\nreturn of husbands and fathers after long absences in the forces presents its own\ndistinctive problems. It must be borne in mind that in many instances these men are\nreturning to their homes almost as strangers. From this it will be seen that problems,\nboth economic and social, are presented. Many adjustments are necessary, and the\nadjustment period varies greatly. It has been and is our duty and privilege to grant\nfinancial assistance where required and render all other help possible to these families\nin their difficult situations. Our Family Services Division and Child Welfare Division,\nwhere children are involved, appear to be the ones feeling the greatest impact of the\ntransition from war to peace.\nThe \" Social Assistance Act\" came into operation during the year, and the regulations thereto promulgated. This legislation is progressive in its intent and coverage\nand has met with general acceptance throughout the Province. Some municipalities\nhave, however, voiced objection to their financial participation. With a better knowledge\nof the Act and experience in its application, I feel their objections will be withdrawn.\nOur relations with the departments of the Federal Government with which we come\nin contact remain cordial. Over the past few years we have made contacts for the\nDependents' Allowance Board, Dependents' Board of Trustees, etc. These are of course\nrapidly decreasing, but at the request of the Department of National Health and Welfare, we agreed to obtain further information as required in the administration of\nFamily Allowances in this Province. In this particular phase of our work we often\ncall upon municipal social workers or private agencies where it would appear they\ncould, with advantage to all concerned, make the contacts. The co-operation received\nfrom the municipalities and private agencies is acknowledged with appreciation. At\nthis point I feel I should mention that in determining the amount of social assistance\nto be granted a family, Family Allowances are not considered as income. S 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nStaff problems have been many, and are dealt with by the Assistant Director of\nWelfare in her report. In the coming year I am hopeful that field staff will be available in numbers sufficient to enable the too heavy case-loads to be reduced and to permit\nthe extension of our services to some extent.\nIn considering plans for the future, many discussions have taken place on our\nmethod of supervision of workers. It appears to be the concensus of opinion that our\nsupervision must be decentralized to permit the best possible utilization of the services\nof our field staff and to render most efficient service.\nI wish to again express my appreciation of the assistance and co-operation I have\nreceived from various municipal officials, the heads of divisions, supervisors, and social\nworkers. In spite of many difficulties our field staff has remained loyal and industrious\nand have, in my opinion, completed a year of commendable work. The experience we\nhave gained since the formation of the Social Assistance Branch will greatly aid us in\nmeeting the problems, old and new, in the coming year.\nRespectfully submitted.\nC. W. Lundy,\nDirector of Welfare. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 9\nASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WELFARE.\nMajor emphasis was given during this year to the stabilizing of the rural district\nstaff and supplying the acute needs of the divisional offices for supervisors. There\nwere more transfers of staff than is desirable, but these, nevertheless, have been necessary in every instance. In view of the number of resignations the appointments made\nduring the year have provided only a slight easing of the pressures on both field service\nstaff and the divisional supervisors.\nCase-loads have grown rather than lessened. The increase may be attributable to\nfamily disorganization which inevitably arises in war-time, to our ageing population\nwhich has been able to make little provision for retirement, to the disabilities of those\nsuffering from chronic disease, and in no small way to the work done by the staff in\ninterpreting to the general public the services the Provincial Government is providing.\nAdditional staff in the field and new cases accepted for service placed greater responsibility on the supervisors in divisional offices, who must review and sanction each case\ncarried and at the same time give the social worker in the district advice on the proper\nhandling of difficult situations. This has meant that divisional staffs had to be\nincreased, and to some extent the field staff has been drawn upon to supply this need.\nAdded to the divisions of the Social Assistance Branch, whose social work personnel is provided by the general administration, has been the Psychiatric Division (Provincial Mental Hospital and Child Guidance Clinic), the Old-age Pension Board, and\nthe Boys' Industrial School. When qualified staff can be found, the Girls' Industrial\nSchool and the Provincial Infirmary will also be added. This provides that the social\nworkers employed within the Provincial Secretary's Department are under the jurisdiction of the general administration of the Social Assistance Branch, thus co-ordinating the supervision of the general work done by the field staff and making for unity\nof purpose in social welfare services and planning. Applications for positions from\nqualified social workers have fallen far short of our needs, and for this reason in-service\ntraining for carefully recruited staff has continued throughout the year. Two three-\nmonth courses given were comprised principally of men from the armed forces and\nincluded social workers from two municipalities. The statistics given below closely\nfollow the set-up of last year's report in order that comparisons may easily be made.\nDISTRICT OFFICES.\nDuring the year under review district offices were opened at Quesnel and Salmon\nArm. Due to shortage of staff the Williams Lake office was closed during the year\nand Smithers remained closed.\nPERSONNEL.\nActual appointments made during the year totalled forty-two. To offset this there\nwere twenty-eight resignations, which means an actual increase of only fourteen. Six\nmembers of the staff were given leave of absence\u00E2\u0080\u0094one to join the armed forces and\nfive to return to university for further study. The following figures show the number\nof social workers in both divisional and district offices:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nStaff as at April 1st, 1945.\nStaff as at March 31st, 1946.\nMen.\nWomen.\nTotal.\nMen.\nWomen.\nTotal.\n28\n4\n36\n64\n4\n35\n5\n36\n71\n5\n.32\n3\n36\n27\n68\n30\n40 36\n5 | 35\n76\n40\nTotals\t\n35 63\n98\n45 71\n1\n116 S 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nTaking the above figures at their face value, it would appear there is an increase\nof eighteen instead of fourteen, but this is due to the return of several members of\nour staff from the armed forces who inadvertently were not shown in last year's figures.\nIn addition to divisional offices shown last year, the Boys' Industrial School,\nPsychiatric Division, and Old-age Pensions have been added. The total of forty as at\nMarch 31st, 1946, in divisional offices is made up as follows:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nGeneral Administration 2\nChild Welfare Division 13\nSocial Allowances, etc. 4\nOld-age Pensions . 2\nPsychiatric Division 6\nDivision of Tuberculosis Control 7\nDivision of Venereal Disease Control 1\nResearch Consultant 1\nTraining Supervisor 1\nTemporary war services ; 2\nBoys' Industrial School 1\nTotal 40\nMUNICIPAL STAFF.\nAt the end of the fiscal year there were twenty-one Provincial district offices and,\nin addition, there were four municipal offices under our scheme of staff amalgamation\nwith a staff of twenty-two social workers. Visits have been made to every district\noffice in the Province.\nMUNICIPALITIES.\nOne of the objects of the \" Social Assistance Act \" is to provide, with the co-operation of the local municipal government, a uniform service to all people of this Province\nwho are eligible for such service. The regulations call for the following:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n(1.) Each municipality with a population of 10,000 or over as at the latest\nFederal census is required to employ at least one social worker on a full-\ntime basis and such additional ones as may be determined by the Director\non a case-load basis.\n(2.) Each municipality with less than 10,000 population as at the latest\nFederal census shall either employ a full-time social worker or arrange\nwith the Social Assistance Branch of the Department of the Provincial\nSecretary to undertake social work within the municipality, the Social\nAssistance Branch to be reimbursed on the basis of 15 cents per capita\nof the population per annum, the municipality to provide office services.\n(3.) Where the case-load warrants the employment of more than one social\nworker, the Social Assistance Branch may either assign to duty in a\nmunicipality an equivalent number of social workers or reimburse the\nmunicipality 50 per cent, of the cost of salaries paid to municipal social\nworkers and 50 per cent, of the cost where a municipality is required to\nemploy only one social worker.\n(4.) Where two or more municipalities desire to operate social administrative\nservices on an amalgamated basis, they may arrange for apportionment\nof the cost as between municipalities on a population or a case-load basis,\nbut for purposes of reimbursement by the Social Assistance Branch\nunder the provisions of the preceding subsections, the amalgamated area\nmay be treated as a unit. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 11\n(5.) Salary reimbursements to municipalities shall be limited to 50 per cent,\nof the salary paid to Provincial social workers under departmental\nschedules.\n(6.) In each municipality there shall be an officer responsible for administering social assistance.\nAt the end of our fiscal year three municipalities had agreed to employ their own\nworkers, four were on a worker-for-worker basis and twenty-five on 15-cents-per-capita\nbasis. There are sixty-three municipalities in British Columbia, but as the Act has\nonly been in operation for a very short time, it will be some months before all agreements are completed. In addition to municipal offices, there are twenty-one Provincial\nsocial assistance offices throughout the Province.\nCASE-LOADS.\nThe case-loads reported from the field for the month of March, 1946, were as\nfollows:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nSocial Assistance Branch\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nSocial Allowance 5,505\nMothers' Allowance 953\nFamily Services 489\nOld-age Pension 17,503\nChild Welfare Division 3,340\nProvincial Board of Health\u00E2\u0080\u0094 '\nTuberculosis Division 486\nVenereal Disease Division 9\nHospitals and Institutions\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nMental Hospital 403\nChild Guidance Clinic 58\nHospital clearance 15\nWelfare institutions .\u00E2\u0080\u0094 46\nProvincial Infirmary 33\nCollections 42\nFederal services\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nDependents' Board of Trustees 127\nDependents' Allowance Board 21\nDirectorate of Social Science 30\nWar Veterans' Allowance 6\nTotal 29,066\nThe number of cases worked on for the Federal Government for the twelve months'\nperiod amounted to 3,946. The average case-load carried by the district workers (Provincial and municipal) as at March 31st, 1946, was 320, as against 341 at the beginning\nof the fiscal year.\nSUPERVISORS' COUNCIL.\nThe Supervisors' Council, composed of the officials from each division, has continued to meet monthly and give valuable help and counsel to the general administration. A sub-committee of the Council was set up to assist the staff from the divisions\nwho are responsible for the direct supervision of the field staff. The function of this\ncommittee was to study methods of supervision practised by each division in order to\nobtain uniformity. A second sub-committee was appointed to study and develop a new\npolicy manual. This committee has done valuable work in this regard, and it is\nexpected that the policy manual will be issued within the next year. S 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nSTAFF DEVELOPMENT.\nTwo three-month in-service training courses were conducted in the year under\nreview. The first, from October 1st to December 30th, 1945, included ten students.\nThe second course, from February 25th to May 6th, 1946, was composed of eight\nindividuals, of whom two were from municipalities.\nGraduates from schools of social work who joined our staff had a minimum of six\nweeks' orientation in district offices adjacent to Vancouver before being placed in\ndistrict offices throughout the Province.\nPUBLICATIONS.\nThe Resources Manual (Provincial Section) was published; 318 copies have been\ndistributed to our own staff and other departments of the Government and interested\nindividuals. Our staff bulletin was published every two months and increased its\npublication from 245 copies to 313.\nVarious articles of an interpretive nature were prepared for publication in other\nperiodicals. Additions to the library were continued and widely circulated.\nCONFERENCES.\nThree staff members attended the Annual Pacific North-west Institute of the\nFamily Welfare Association of America at Shawnigan Lake from July 30th to August\n4th. A regional conference was held in Kamloops in May, 1945, at which a case-work\ninstitute was given by Miss Marjorie Smith, head of the Department of Social Work.\nRegional Supervisors' Conference was held in Victoria in January, 1946, to discuss\nplans for decentralization.\nSTUDENT PLACEMENT.\nPsychiatric, Tuberculosis, and Child Welfare Divisions provided field-work for\nnine students, and ten students received their field-work in our district offices.\nIt may be said that the work of the past year has been directed to perfecting as\nfar as possible our' department as a whole. From evaluation of standards of work,\nstaff needs, administration policies, and job analyses, it is possible to foresee the trends\nof the future. The work done in the early months of 1946 in preparation for the major\noperation of decentralizing administration leads us to predict that this objective will\nsoon be realized.\nRespectfully submitted.\nAmy Leigh,\nAssistant Director of Welfare. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 13\nCHILD WELFARE DIVISION.\nThe fiscal year 1945-46 saw the end of six years of war in Europe and Asia. The\nexigencies of these war years made extraordinary demands on Governments, industries,\nfamilies, and children, and the fields of both public and private social welfare alike felt\nthe resulting impacts keenly. The Federal Government and all branches of the armed\nforces referred the problems of men in the services and their families to both public\nand private social agencies of the Province, and this responsibility was accepted by\nthese agencies without question. The problems referred were not different to those\nreferred to social agencies in peace-time, but they were made new and pressing by the\nmany urgencies created by war.\nWives and mothers, finding the task of rearing children a difficult one with the\nhusband and father away; children bewildered and alarmed by the insecurities of\nadults around them, and behaving in ways which in turn bewildered and alarmed not\nonly the parents but the adult members of their community as well\u00E2\u0080\u0094all received what\nhelp we could give them. Young girls, able to find jobs away from their families, but\nunable to cope with the complexities of living in centres where large war industries or\ntroop concentrations were located, came to us, and many children born out of wedlock\nfor whom care must be provided were placed in our care either by the mothers themselves or by the Court.\nNow, at April 1st, 1946, demobilization is well under way, and a world too long\ngeared to the business of war is striving hard to focus its attention on peace-time\nactivities. Social workers are becoming retrospective as to what has taken place within\nthe social agencies during the past six years and as to what their role should be in\nthis period of reconversion and rehabilitation.\nThe Social Assistance Branch, like all Provincial services, has undergone tremendous changes in these war years, and in this report we will try to set forth what some\nof these changes have meant to the services given to children by the Child Welfare\nDivision and chart to some extent at least what its goals for the future should be.\nFigures do not necessarily signify trends, nor are they always indicative of the\nstandard of service rendered. However, in reviewing the number of families and children our workers have tried to serve and the service given, as well as the need for such\nservices, we have been able to determine some of the gaps in our programme and to\nconsider ways and means whereby these may be met in the future.\nPROTECTION OF CHILDREN.\nDuring 1939-40, the first year of the war, the Child Welfare Division carried 1,239\n\" protection \" cases, in which some form of family breakdown had occurred and the\nwell-being of the 3,700 children involved was endangered. There were 558 \" new\"\nfamilies referred that year. The first full year of war, 1940-41, showed a slight drop\nin the number of new families but a 27-per-cent. increase in the total families served;\n1941-42 brought a 72.6-per-cent. increase in new referrals (725 families), and 1942-43\nalmost the same number. In 1943-44, 912 families were referred, and a total of 2,581\nfamilies with nearly 7,000 children were served. In this last full year of war we served\nmore than twice the number of families as were served in the first.\nWith the formation of the Family Service Division of the Social Assistance Branch\nin 1944-45 our new cases di-opped to 735, but the Child Welfare Division carried a peak\nload of 2,952 families, involving about 9,000 children. The Family Service Division\nhas been in operation a full year now, and as a result the Child Welfare Division has\naccepted only those families in which the children were in need or likely to be in need\nof protection as defined by the \" Protection of Children Act.\" The'new \"protection \"\ncases in this past fiscal year numbered 444, but a total of 2,582 families with 4,144\nchildren were served. S 14\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nThese 4,144 children were those whose families for one reason or another were not\nproviding them adequate care and protection. In most instances some adjustment was\nmade within the family or through relatives, thus enabling the children to remain\nwithin the family group. However, with 137 of the families the situation was so\nserious and urgent that the Child Welfare Division had to admit to care 200 of the\nchildren involved.\nLast year's report recommended a more equitable distribution of costs between\nthe Provincial Government and municipalities, and as a result the Government agreed\nto pay, as from October 1st, 1945, 80 per cent, of the per capita rate for non-ward care\nfor children with municipal residence. This has been a tremendous help in our\npreventive work with children, and because municipalities need not be so concerned\nabout \" costs,\" they are, we feel, more interested in our efforts to strengthen family\nrelationships.\nHowever, municipalities are still finding the 100-per-cent. cost of ward care heavy,\nand particularly the smaller ones with less financial security. An order for maintenance was recently made against a municipality under the \" Protection of Children\nAct \" for a family of eight children, the oldest 13 years and the youngest a few months.\nThe municipal officials recognized that the children had to be made wards of the\nSuperintendent, but the cost of maintaining each child until it reaches the age of 18\nis staggering when the municipality's financial resources are limited.\nCases carried in 1944-45 under \" Protection of Children Act.\"\nRegion.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1945.\nNew.\nReopened.\nTransferred in.\nClosed.\nTransferred out.\nChild\nPlacement.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1946.\n1\t\n334\n951\n292\n171\n152\n66\n232\n58\n27\n61\n26\n57\n14\n5\n9\n24\n42\n16\n13\n32\n220\n738\n173\n113\n112\n27\n42\n18\n8\n32\n64\n122\n63\n46\n38\n139\n2 \t\n380\n3\t\n126\n4\t\n49\n5\t\n72\nTotals\t\n1,900\n444\n111\n127\n1,356\n127\n333\n766\n\" CHILDREN OF UNMARRIED PARENTS ACT.\"\nWe could find reason for alarm in our work with unmarried parents during these\npast six years if we stopped to consider only our case-load numbers. Since the Child\nWelfare Division is responsible for collections under the \" Children of Unmarried\nParents Act \" in addition to case-work services, the total number of cases in any one\nyear includes a large number of cases \" carried over \" from year to year for collection\npurposes. In the number of \" new \" cases only, therefore, can we attempt to estimate\nthe increase of illegitimacy during these years.\nThe following is a table of new cases referred, and total cases known since April\n1st, 1939:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nNew Cases.\nIncrease over\n1939-40.\nIncrease over\nPreceding\nYear.\nTotal Cases\nas at\nMarch 31st.\nPer Cent.\nPer Cent.\n1939-40\t\n1940-41\t\n1941-42\t\n1942-43\t\n1943-44\t\n1944-45\t\n1945-46\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u00A2 Decrease.\n300\n360\n382\n492\n576\n573\n500\n20.00\n27.33\n64.00\n92.00\n91.00\n66.66\n20.00\n9.16\n28.79\n17.07\n0.52\u00C2\u00BB\n12.73\u00C2\u00BB\n1,364\n1,438\n1,651\n1,908\n2,271\n1,942\n2,487 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 15\nIt is difficult to estimate the meaning of these figures, and it would be unfair to\ndo so without taking into consideration at least two important factors; namely, the\nspectacular increase in British Columbia's population during the war years, and the\nexpansion of social services throughout the Province, which made it possible for unmarried mothers, who otherwise would not have been known to an agency, to seek and\nobtain help for herself and child. It would seem important at this time to remember\nthat even an increase of 66.66 per cent, in six years represents a comparatively small\ngroup out of British Columbia's total population of young girls and women. Unmarried\nparenthood is usually a symptom of unstable or unsatisfying relationships in that young\nperson's own home, and a good proportion of records show that these unmarried\nmothers' own parents were also known to social agencies because of unsatisfactory\nhome conditions or relationships. If we are to curb illegitimacy, parents must be\nhelped to realize how important a sound and happy family life is to their growing\nboys and girls.\nA good deal of publicity has been given the reputed increase of unmarried mothers\nin their teens during the war years. A comparison of the age-groups of unmarried\nmothers known to us during the first three years of the war and this last year of war\nis rather interesting in this regard:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nUnder 19.\n20-29.\n30-39.\n40-49.\n50 and\nover.\nNot\ngiven.\nTotal.\n1939-40\t\n1940-41\t\n109\n108\n68\n88\n165\n191\n243\n314\n17\n35\n53\n47\n4\n11\n6\n7\n2\n3\n14\n12\n44\n300\n360\n1941-42\t\n1945-46\t\n382\n500\nA further breakdown of the \" under 19 \" and \" 20-29 \" groups during this past year\nis also enlightening. Of the 88 \" under 19,\" 4 were aged 14 and 15, 25 were 16 and 17,\nand 59 were 18 and 19. In the 314 between 20 to 30, 100 were 20 or 21, 141 were 22\nto 25, and 73 were 26 to 30. Unfortunately we do not have the comparative figures in\nthe \" under 19 \" group for the first three years, but it is apparent from the figures\navailable that the bulk of unmarried mothers are in the normal child-bearing age-group,\nwhich is from 20 to 29.\nThe war years show an interesting increase in the number of illegitimate children\nborn to women 25 to 35 years of age. Some are married women separated from their\nhusbands by the circumstances of war and emotionally unable to stand the added\nresponsibilities of being both mother and father to a family during the husband's\nabsence. With the return of their husbands, their situation is a difficult one. Frequently they have had to choose between husband and the baby. The decision is\ninvariably to relinquish the baby, but in many instances it has been a hard decision\nto make and has carried with it much heartbreak. We have placed many of these children in satisfactory adoption homes, and have been able to assist husbands and wives\nto a more satisfactory relationship by helping them to understand their problems more\nfully.\nThe teen-age unmarried mother presents a different and, in many ways, a more\ncomplicated problem, since frequently we cannot look to her own family for the support\nand help she needs. Too often they failed her during her growing-up years, and usually\nshe must make plans for herself and her baby apart from the family group. S 16\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nCases carried in 1944-45 under \" Children of Unmarried Parents Act.\"\nPending.\nRegion.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1945.\nNew.\nReopened.\nTransferred in.\nClosed.\nTransferred out.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1946.\n1\t\n128\n398\n59\n39\n64\n82\n287\n34\n20\n24\n3\n4\n1\n9\n37\n10\n4\n6\n101\n427\n57\n26\n54\n19\n58\n7\n6\n12\n102\n2\t\n241\n3\t\n39\n4\t\n5\t\n31\n29\nTotals\t\n688\n447\n8\n66\n665\n102\n442\nOrders and Agreements.\n1\t\n61\n9\n1\n13\n20\n10\n54\n2\t\n266\n31\n3\n36\n99\n26\n211\n3\t\n48\n5\n15\n16\n9\n43\n4\t\n44\n3\n1\n9\n7\n4\n46\n5\t\n37\n5\n2\n10\n6\n28\nTotals\t\n456\n53\n5\n75\n152\n55\n382\nCOLLECTIONS UNDER THE \"CHILDREN OF UNMARRIED\nPARENTS ACT.\"\nCollections from putative fathers under the \" Children of Unmarried Parents Act \"\nhave increased markedly during these six years, due to a large extent to the co-operation received from the Dependents' Allowance Board and Commanding Officers in the\narmed forces. There is a decrease this year, as expected, but it is also interesting to\nhear of putative fathers who, now demobilized from the forces, are of their own accord\ngetting in touch with the workers to arrange for continued payments.\nCollections during 1944-45 were two and a half times as much as in 1939-40, and\nin 1945\u00E2\u0080\u009446 the statistics show almost the same increase.\n1939-40 $13,928.35 1943-44 $35,614.63\n1940-41 19,426.54 1944-45 34,013.48\n1941-42 24,700.29 1945-46 32,012.75\n1942-43 29,807.92\nWhat future collections will be, it is difficult to predict. This is dependent to a\nlarge extent upon how quickly reconversion to peace-time industries is achieved.\nA change in thinking is apparent as we concentrate on our work with unmarried\nparents. We wonder as to the harmful effect of Court action under the \" Children of\nUnmarried Parents Act\" on a young unmarried mother or putative father. Again,\nwhen the putative father is a married man, how constructive is action against him if\nit results in hardship to his family and a widening of the breach between himself and\nhis wife and children. If the putative father is young and single, it may seem right\nfor him to contribute towards the support of his illegitimate child; but when he\nbecomes older and wants to marry, too often his income is not sufficient to maintain\na family and still continue his payment to the unmarried mother. Looking back over\nsome of the cases we have known, we wonder how often such a situation has been\na factor in causing young men to stay away from marriage and responsibility and to\nbecome \" drifters \" from one field of employment to another. We have also seen young\nunmarried mothers who have kept their babies, and have been promised monthly support from putative fathers which they did not get, grow bitter and vindictive as the\nyears go by. All putative fathers do not pay regularly, and in many instances it\nbecomes a sixteen-year task of reminding or compelling him to meet his monthly pay- REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 17\nments. In many cases it would seem best for all concerned if a cash settlement could\nbe made in the beginning. This might enable both to establish permanent ties and\nlessen the possibility of limiting the fullness of their future lives because of an unwise\nrelationship in their youth. There is need for research study in this field in order\nthat we may learn of our shortcomings and as a result base our future practices and\nprocedures on a better knowledge of the problem as it exists in British Columbia.\nCHILDREN IN CARE.\nOur Child Placement programme has perhaps undergone more change than any\nother during these years. Because in the past the majority of our children were cared\nfor by Children's Aid Societies, it is not possible to give comparative figures for the\npast six years. However, a review of the foster-homes of the past two years and the\nchildren cared for in these homes does indicate the increased responsibility the Government has been prepared to assume for children who must be removed from their homes.\nDuring 1944-45 we had about 200 approved foster-homes throughout the Province,\nwith some 193 pending investigation and approval, and a total of 352 children were\ncared for throughout the year in Child Welfare Division foster-homes. During the\npast year we had 339 approved homes, with 108 pending, and during this year a total\nnumber of 456 children were cared for in our foster-homes. Of these, 204 were wards\nof the Superintendent of Child Welfare, 203 were non-wards, and 49 children cared for\nfrom other agencies.\nAs at April 1st, 1946, we had a total of 358 children in Child Welfare Division\nfoster-homes: 194 were wards of the Superintendent of Child Welfare, 124 were non-\nwards, and 40 children from other agencies, as compared to April 1st, 1945, when we\nhad 178 wards, 108 non-wards, and 33 children from other agencies.\nCertainly our service to children cannot be evaluated by the numbers in care.\nIn fact, the increased numbers give us cause for serious thought as to why children\nare being taken into care, and what the results of placement have been to the children\nconcerned. We are giving careful thought to every request for admission of a child\nto care in order to be quite certain that everything possible has been done to enable\nthat child to remain with his own family, and also to determine whether or not we\nhave at our disposal the particular type of care required to meet that child's particular\nneeds. If not, why remove him? It is, however, almost impossible under our present\nsystem of supervision to give our workers in the field the help and guidance they need\nin meeting the difficult problems they encounter in this respect.\nA brief review of the 44 children admitted from 30 families during January,\nFebruary, and March, 1946, gives a vivid picture of some of these problems. Under\nour present system of supervision from divisional office there is no question but that\neach of these 44 children had to be admitted to care. However, if our supervisors\nwere in district office, our case-work services to families would be improved, and it is\npossible that some children now removed would be able to remain in their homes under\nsupervision. Of the 44 children admitted to care during the three months referred\nto, 14 were illegitimate; 4 of these were children of unmarried mothers and 3 were\nborn to married women by men other than their husbands. These 7 children were in\nour care for short periods only, pending either adoption placement or completion of\nthe mother's own plans for care of her child. The remaining 7 illegitimate children\nwere born of so-called \" common-law unions.\" One of these children, a boy of 14, had\nbeen born to his mother prior to her present marriage and had for years been a source\nof contention between the mother and the stepfather. At the time the family became\nknown to this district worker, the child was in serious difficulties in the community and\nhad to be removed.\nOf the 30 remaining children, 29 were legitimate and 1 had been legally adopted\nsome years ago. This boy's adoptive mother had died, and following his adoptive S 18\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nfather's remarriage, there was constant friction in the family, with the result that this\nboy developed some serious behaviour problems and had to be removed. Apparently\nhe has adjusted well in his new foster-home, but will require careful supervision if the\ndamage wrought by those years of unhappiness is to be overcome. Among the 29\nlegitimate children, only 10 were living with both own parents. The remaining 19\nchildren came from twelve broken homes. The parents of 9 children were separated;\nthe parents of 2 were divorced; 1 was the child of a widower; 4 children of one family\nhad to be taken into care when their sole surviving parent was sent to jail; 2 were\norphans; 1 infant had to be placed when the mother was committed to the Provincial\nMental Hospital, the father having placed the 4 other children with relatives who were\nunable to take this small baby.\nOf the 10 children living with both parents, 2 from two families were committed\nto the Superintendent of Child Welfare under the \" Juvenile Delinquents Act \"; another\nchild, who was previously committed to the Girls' Industrial School from her home, was\nplaced in a foster-home upon parole because her own home was not suitable for her\nreturn; 2 children from two families were made wards of the Superintendent of Child\nWelfare because of serious neglect; another of the 10 children was a 14-year-old\nunmarried mother who came into care pending confinement; and 4 were children taken\ninto care temporarily because of the sudden illness of the mother.\nThese are all serious family situations, and we are finding it increasingly difficult\nto give to the district workers the help and direction required. Only when we achieve\nsupervision of workers in district offices will we be in a position to say with certainty\nthat all that could had been done to make it possible for a child to remain with his\nown family.\nSupervision of children in foster-homes and help for our foster-parents suffers\ngreatly under our present system. We are aware daily of gaps in our child-care programme, but not until the method of supervision of workers in the field is improved,\nthus raising the standards of job performance throughout the Province, would it be\nadvisable to develop a type of care to complement our foster-home programme.\nWe continue to use the services of the three Children's Aid Societies for receiving-\nhomes for children admitted to care from areas near Vancouver and Victoria, and for\nchildren requiring special care or attention. One hundred and eighty-five children\nwere cared for in this way during the fiscal year; of these, 130 were non-wards in\ncare for temporary periods and 55 wards of the Superintendent of Child Welfare. In\naddition, 2 wards of the Superintendent of Child Welfare were committed to the Provincial Mental Hospital, 3 to the Boys' Industrial School, while 6 wards went to relatives\nin other Provinces. By reciprocal arrangement we assumed responsibility for supervision of 7 wards of other Provinces now living in British Columbia with relatives or\nfoster-parents.\nIn total we assumed responsibility for 657 children during the fiscal year and, as\nat April 1st, 1946, continued responsibility for 490 children.\nFoster-homes carried, 1945-46.\nRegion.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1945.\nNew.\nReopened.\nTransferred in.\nClosed.\nTransferred out.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1946.\n1\t\n70\n81\n140\n66\n36\n48\n40\n41\n38\n9.9\n3\n2\n4\n29\n35\n35\n27\n12\n1\n1\n4\n89\n87\n146\n79\n2\t\n3\t\n4\t\n5\t\nTotals\t\nana I irq\n3\n6\n447\n\"\u00E2\u0080\u00A2\"\" REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 19\nApproved 339\nNot approved 252\nTotal 591\nFAMILY ALLOWANCES.\nIn July, 1945, the Federal \" Family Allowances Act\" became effective, and children in foster-homes were termed eligible. Since that time we have issued 1,611\ncheques to foster-mothers, and disbursed $13,329. The allowance is used for foster-\nchildren in the same way as it is used for children in their own homes; it is not applied\nto maintenance or credited to municipalities. Family Allowances are a real resource\nin our work with children. Through it some are being taught the use of bank accounts,\nothers are being given an opportunity to develop talents in instrument-playing, singing,\ndancing, or, as in one instance, even boxing. Still others have been able to buy a\nmuch-coveted bicycle, wagon, or skates. Foster-parents are eager to use this money\nthoughtfully and in the interests of the children in their care. One child was in\nhospital for some time, and the foster-parents, recognizing how important it would be\nfor him to feel \" remembered,\" used the Family Allowances cheque to pay for bus fare\nto see him weekly. Beyond the price of any gift they might bring him was the knowledge that his foster mother and father had not forgotten him, and wanted him to get\nwell and come \" home.\" Yes, Family Allowances for foster-children are constructive.\nWe acknowledge with thanks the helpful co-operation we have received from the British\nColumbia Regional Family Allowances Office.\nADOPTIONS.\nWe feel that the increase in adoption placement work indicates that sound and\nacceptable practices of child care have been developed in British Columbia in this field\nthroughout the years. It is difficult to estimate the number of private placements made\nin a year, since many do not come to our attention before legal notification of intention\nto adopt is submitted, and this may be some time after the child has been placed in the\nhome. However, an increasing number of requests for children for adoption are being\nreceived by the Division and the Children's Aid Societies, and prospective adopting\nparents generally seem more eager to obtain children from recognized social agencies.\nLast year's report referred to a policy we hoped to form with hospitals, through\nthe Inspector of Hospitals, whereby we would be notified of all illegitimate births\noccurring in hospitals. This was achieved this year, and while it is too soon to estimate\nthe number of private placements this policy has averted, we are confident that we are\nreaching a number of unmarried mothers who otherwise would not know of available\nservices and might, from necessity, arrange a private adoption placement. Too often\nsuch placements are made soon after the baby's birth and before the mother is in a\nposition to consider her resources and know definitely what she wants and is able to\ndo for her child. In a number of these referrals, the mother had thought vaguely of\nadoption placement but did not know where to go. In others, adoption placement was\nbeing asked because of the lack of finances. During the war years when employment\nwas easy to find and wages were high, fewer unmarried mothers wished to relinquish\ntheir children for adoption. Now that the more highly paid jobs are no longer available, an increasing number of mothers, apparently fearful of the economic factors as\nwell as the social, are asking adoption placement of their babies.\nDuring the past fiscal year the Child Welfare Division placed 35 children in\napproved adoption homes throughout the Province, and the three Children's Aid\nSocieties 121. Unfortunately comparative figures for the preceding five years are\nnot available, but this is thought to be about a 30-per-cent. increase over any past year. S 20\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nDuring the six years there has been a 61.81-per-cent. increase in completed adoptions and a consistent increase in requests for children for adoption.\nCompleted adoptions, 1939 to date:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n1939-40 126\n.1940-41 160\n1941-42 157\n1943-44 234\n1944-45 292\n1945-46 330\n1942-43 144\nThe following table gives a rather graphic picture of the number of children in\nadoption homes and the number of adoption applications received and studied during\nthe past six years: \u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAdoption\nHomes.\n... 163\n_ 190\n1939-40\t\n1940-41\t\n1941-42 216\n1942-43 439\n1943-44 518\n1944-45 524\n1945-46 635\nChildren\nin Homes.\n253\n344\n534\n763\n1,043\n1,185\n1,351\nAs at April 1st, 1946, 748 children were under supervision in adoption homes, and\n312 homes were awaiting placements.\nAdoption Cases carried in 1945-46.\nChildren in Home.\nRegion.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1945.\nNew.\nReopened.\nTransferred in.\nCompleted.\nClosed.\nTransferred out.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1946.\n1 _\t\n2\t\n3\t\n4\t\n5\t\n163\n385\n62\n38\n61\n80\n318\n53\n40\n28\n18 15\n26 31\n5 | 16\n1 | 2\n6 3\n79\n197\n23\n17\n14\n31\n114\n14\n11\n36\n14\n28\n19\n1\n5\n152\n421\n80\n52\n43\nTotals\t\n709 519\nI\n56 67\n1\n330 206 67\n1 1\n748\nApproved Homes.\nRegion.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1945.\nNew.\nReopened.\nTransferred in.\nClosed.\nTransferred out.\nCarried\nover as at\nApril 1st,\n1946.\n1 \t\n51\n40\n28\n26\n10\n18\n18\n7\n7\n12\n1\n4\n1\n10\n13\n22\n5\n2\n36\n25\n14\n15\n4\n1\n3\n11\n1\n3\n43\n2\t\n47\n3 \t\n32\n4 \t\n5 \t\n18\nTotals\t\n155\n62\n6\n52\n94\n19\n162\nHomes waiting Approval.\n1 \t\n60\n52\n37\n21\n24\n22\n60\n22\n19\n13\n1\n5\n3\n1\n2\n2\n2\n12\n1\n1\n43 j\n55\n25\n17\n21\n10\n10\n22\n5\n2\n2 \t\n54\n3 \t\n4 -\t\n5\t\n20\n17\nTotals\t\n194\n136\n12\n18\n161\n49\n150 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 21\nOVERSEAS CHILDREN.\nDuring the war years the public and private agencies of British Columbia cared\nfor 211 overseas children as their quota of the total number brought to Canada under\nthe auspices of the Children's Overseas Reception Board. The majority of these children have been returned to the United Kingdom during the past two years. As at\nApril 1st, 1946, we have only 25 left in the Province; some of these are awaiting the\narrival of their parents in Canada, others are completing their education before returning, and a few have found work and are remaining, by special arrangement, to establish\nthemselves as citizens of Canada.\nThe placement and supervision of these overseas children was a unique and interesting experience; with few exceptions they responded well to placement. Much could\nbe learned through research study of the methods and techniques used, not only in the\nplacement and supervision of this group of children, but also of the study and choice\nof foster-homes used.\nEXPENDITURES AND COLLECTIONS.\nThe increased volume of work carried by the Child Welfare Division during the\npast six years has meant an accompanying increase in expenditures. On the credit\nside, however, there has also been an increase in collections made from parents and\nmunicipalities. Cost of maintaining children in foster-homes is our largest expenditure and naturally reflects the increase in cost of living during the war.\nThe following tables show the number of days' care provided for children and\npaid for by the Provincial Government during the past six years, and also the amounts\ncollected from parents and municipalities:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nChildren cared for in Child Welfare Division Foster-homes.\n1939-40 \t\nCollected\n1940-41\nCollected\n1941-42\nCollected\n1942-43\nCollected\n1943-44\nCollected\n1944-45\nCollected\n1945-46\nCollected\nNo. Days' Care.\nExpenditures.\n41,003\n$23,233.94\n1,527.83\n$21,706.11\n42,119\n$19,220.60\n1,665.50\n17,555.10\n42,301\n$22,415.57\n3,182.27\n19,233.30\n49,415\n$32,075.25\n7,625.07\n24,450.18\n52,762\n$37,342.59\n10,532.79\n26,809.80\n69,637\n$55,565.01\n18,930.74\n36,634.27\n94,513\n$73,729.36\n33,791.91\n39,487.45 S 22\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nChildren in Care of the Three Children's Aid Societies,\nchargeable to provincial government.\n1939-40 \t\nCollected\n1940-41 \t\nNo. Days' Care.\n137,966\n150,678\nExpenditures.\n$99,632.33\n5,305.23\nCollected\n1941-42 161,078\nCollected \t\n1942-43 \t\nCollected\n1943-44 \t\nCollected\n1944-45 \t\nCollected\n141,114\n148,746\n150,147\n1945-46 151,335\nCollected \t\n$111,881.64\n12,402.30\n$119,123.93\n17,359.26\n$126,201.17\n20,488.58\n$133,531.96\n21,795.96\n$143,636.52\n23,984.94\n$150,926.07\n25,808.20\n$94,327.10\n99,479.34\n101,764.67\n105,712.59\n111,736.00\n119,651.58\n125,117.87\nA comparison of the changes in per capita per diem rates during these years gives\na graphic picture of the increase in cost of living, and also tells something of the\nimproved supervision given.\nChildren's Aid Societies per Capita per Diem Rates.\nVancouver.\nCatholic.\nVictoria.\n1940\t\n$0.74\n.757\n.887\n.907\n.953\n.99\n$0.72\n.73\n.7809\n.9006\n.9881\n.984\n$0.72\n1941 \t\n1942\t\n.87\n1943\t\n.928\n1944\t\n1945\t\n9466\nSTAFF CHANGES.\nThe staff changes in the Child Welfare Division during these years are, we feel,\nindicative of the desire on the part of the Government to provide the best possible care\nand supervision for children who must be reared apart from their own families.\nIn 1939-40 the staff of the Child Welfare Division comprised the Superintendent\nand Deputy Superintendent, three social workers, and five clerical staff members.\nIn 1945-46, following our decision to establish \" specialized\" sections within the\nDivision, we had, besides the Superintendent and the Deputy, a supervisor as the head\nof each of the four sections (Protection, Placement, Adoption, Unmarried Mothers),\nand six social workers. The clerical staff numbered twenty-two\u00E2\u0080\u0094a head book-keeper\nand three assistants, a head filing clerk and two assistants, thirteen stenographers, one\nstatistician, and one receptionist. This was a minimum staff to carry the volume of\nwork and give the kind of service we hoped for. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 23\nDuring this past year we have reaffirmed our thinking on the value of the\n\" specialized \" sections as outlined in last year's report. It has not only made us more\naware of what we are doing for children and families, but also has shown what we\nare not doing for them!\nDivisional supervisors may give much time and thought to a particular child's\ndifficulty or a family's difficulties, but unless the worker who is dealing with that\nfamily or child can have the full benefit of this thinking, it is of little avail. We are\nsatisfied that the worker cannot be given this help by our present system of supervision\nby memo., and the Child Welfare Division, as other divisions, looks forward to the day\nwhen the policy of decentralization is set up.\nThe past six years have been full, and changes have taken place rapidly. In\nreview, perhaps more than at the time the changes came about, we are aware of a\ngradual but definitely improved standard of service to families and children. Also,\nwe are conscious of an increased desire on the part of Government to safeguard children\nand ensure them good health and educational facilities, and a safe childhood. During\nthe depression years we learned what deprivation and years of discouragement can\ndo to a family's morale. A high percentage of to-day's \" problem parents \" were\nchildren of that era. During the war years we learned anew of the innate courage\nand fearlessness of youth. In our pride in them we seemed to become more aware of\nhow important to the future of our country are the children of our various communities.\nWe have endeavoured in this report to set out some of the things the Child Welfare\nDivision has done in an effort to foster this awareness in communities, and to outline\nfuture plans which would ensure increased help and guidance to families and more\nthoughtful care and training for children apart from their parents. \" In our children\nrests our future \" is a true and vital statement. They are to-morrow's parents, and\ntheir ideals and attitudes will shape our future destiny.\nA review of the work of the Child Welfare Division during the war years would\nbe incomplete without an expression of appreciation of the way in which the three\nChildren's Aid Societies of this Province accepted increased responsibilities throughout\nthis period. Out of this war experience has come a knowledge that with the rapid\ndevelopment in the field of public welfare there is need for the private agency to clarify\nits future function. The three Children's Aid Societies of British Columbia are\ncognizant of this, and are planning future policies and practices which will allow each\nagency to continue to make a maximum contribution to the total child welfare services\nin this Province and the Dominion.\nSummary of Total Cases\ncarried During Year 1945\n-46.\n\" Protection of\nChildren\nAct.\"\nFoster-\nhomes.\nAdoption.\n\" Unmarried\nParents Act.\"\nRegion.\nChild in\nHome.\nApproved\nHome.\nHome\nwaiting\nApproval.\nPending.\nOrders\nand Agreements.\n1\t\n450\n1,282\n380\n216\n254\n118\n123\n181\n107\n62\n276\n760\n136\n81\n98\n80\n75\n57\n38\n25\n85\n119\n74\n42\n40\n222\n726\n103\n63\n95\n84\n2 \t\n336\n3\t\n68\n4 \t\n57\n5\t\n44\n2,582\n591\n1\n1,351\n275\n360\n1,209\n589\nRuby McKay,\nSuperintendent of Child Welfare. S 24\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nCOLLECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL REVENUE.\nI submit herewith report of the activities of this office for the fiscal year April 1st,\n1945, to March 31st, 1946.\nPROVINCIAL TUBERCULOSIS UNITS.\nTotal Admissions, Deaths, and Discharges, Department of\nVeterans' Affairs, Provincial, and Municipal.\nMonth.\nAdmissions.\nDeaths.\nDischarges.\nD.V.A.\nMun.\nProv.\nTotal.\nD.V.A.\nMun.\nProv.\nTotal.\nD.V.A.\nMun.\nProv.\nTotal.\n1945.\n8\n11\n12\n19\n22\n11\n14\n32\n18\n24\n16\n14\n48\n33\n46\n32\n66\n41\n30\n43\n40\n35\n27\n36\n22\n24\n15\n20\n21\n19\n10\n19\n24\n12\n15\n23\n78\n68\n73\n71\n109\n71\n54\n94\n82\n71\n58\n73\n2\n2\n4\n1\n2\n1\n2\n1\n7\n10\n10\n6\n12\n10\n13\n10\n5\n8\n11\n4\n3\n3\n8\n4\n6\n5\n3\n5\n7\n5\n2\n4\n10\n15\n20\n10\n22\n15\n16\n16\n14\n14\n15\n9\n11\n14\n11\n8\n8\n8\n14\n18\n17\n11\n10\n12\n35\n25\n30\n41\n25\n25\n25\n32\n38\n22\n19\n40\n12\n18\n10\n13\n10\n7\n14\n7\n13\n12\n17\n14\n58\n57\n51\n62\n43\n40\n53\n57\n68\n1946.\nJanuary\t\n45\n46\nMarch\t\n66\nTotals\t\n201\n477 [ 224\n902\n15\n106\n55\n176\n142\n357\n147\n646\nContracts (private paying) made during the fiscal year 1945-46:-\n1945\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nApril\t\nMay\t\nJune\t\nJuly\t\nAugust\t\nSeptember.\nOctober\t\nNovember..\nDecember...\n1946\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nJanuary\t\nFebruary\t\nMarch\t\n20\n24\n27\n32\n38\n26\n21\n45\n25\n40\n26\n22\nTotal.\n346 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 25\nAdmissions, Deaths, and Discharges by Municipalities.\nMunicipality.\nAdmissions.\nDeaths.\nDischarges.\n1\n1\n10\n1\n4\n6\n1\n1\n2\n2\n2\n3\n2\n1\n1\n5\n3\n3\n8\n3\n14\n2\n4\n2\n3\n2\n8\n1\n8\n7\n4\n5\n1\n12\n4\n313\n3\n20\n5\n6\n1\n1\n2\n1\n1\n2\n1\n2\n1\n3\n1\n1\n2\n1\n71\n8\n1\n2\n1\nIS\n2\n1\n3\n2\n1\n1\nDistrict of Delta\t\n1\n3\n2\n1\n1\n2\n5\n1\n1\n2\n7\nDistrict of North Cowichan\t\n1\n8\n5\n1\n2\n2\n1\n2\n4\n1\n10\n2\n6\n7\n2\n221\n1\n17\n7\n447\n106\n357 S 26\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nNumber of Patients, Patient-days, and Total Municipal Collections.\nMunicipality.\nNo. of Patients\nin Hospital,\nApril 1st, 1945,\nMunicipal\nCharge.\nNo. of Patient-\ndays charged\nMunicipality,\nApril 1st, 1945, to\nMarch 31st, 1946.\nTotal Municipal\nCollections,\nApril, 1945. to\nMarch, 1946.\n1\n20\n4\n1\n1\n1\n4\n6\n5\n2\n3\n6\n2\n1\n1\n2\n9\n9\n5\n1\n2\n1\n2\n2\n10\n1\n11\nQ\n6\n1\n2\n8\n192\n1\n22\n7\n1\n191\n79\n3,863\n1,036\n737\n1,382\n291\n147\n387\n287\n404\n365\n879\n1,781\n1,527\n538\n59\n4\n1,730\n2,228\n308\n165\n944\n981\n4,255\n501\n2,544\n1,160\n626\n805\n35\n1,283\n477\n138\n193\n4,125\n115\n3,349\n1,288\n1,793\n365\n359\n1,428\n3,721\n75,761\n796\n8,697\n2,031\n365\n$152.80\n63.20\n3,090.40\n828.80\nDistrict of Chilliwhack\t\n589.60\n1,105.60\n232.80\nVillage of Creston\t\n117.60\n309.60\n229.60\n323.20\n292.00\n703.20\n1,424.80\n1,221.60\n430.40\n47.20\n3.20\n1,384.00\n1,782.40\n246.40\n132.00\n755.20\n784 80\nCity of New Westminster\t\n3,404.00\nDistrict of North Cowichan\t\n400.80\nCity of North Vancouver\t\n2,035.20\nDistrict of Pitt Meadows\t\n28 00\n1,026.40\nCity of Port Moody\t\n3,300.00\n2.679.20\n1,030.40\n1,434.40\n292.00\n287.20\n1,142.40\n2,976.80\n60,608.80\n636.80\n6,957.60\n1,624.80\n292.00\nCity of Trail\t\nTotals\t\n356\n136,523\n$109,218.40\nMunicipal collections, fiscal year 1945-46 $109,218.40\nMunicipal collections, fiscal year 1944-45 117,249.60\nDecrease, 1945-46 $8,031.20\nTransportation arranged for sixty-two patients: $1,001.84 expended on transportation. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 27\nStatement of Collections (other than Municipal), Fiscal Year 1945-46.\nMonth.\nPrivate\nPaying.\nDepartment\nof Veterans'\nAffairs.\nWar\nVeterans'\nAllowances.\nOld-age\nPensions.\nDependents'\nAllowances.\nSilicosis\nand Indian\nX-rays.\nTotal.\n1945.\nApril\t\nMay \u00E2\u0080\u0094\t\nJune\t\nJuly\t\nAugust\t\nSeptember\t\nOctober\t\nNovember\t\nDecember\t\n1946.\nJanuary.\t\nFebruary\t\nMarch\t\nTotals\t\n$3,343.83\n5,301.08\n3,276.19\n2,807.24\n4.168.57\n4,577.90\n2,854.34\n4,194.25\n2,765.40\n4,631.72\n4,393.55\n6,286.30\n$48,600.37\n$6,353.90\n7,173.40\n7,542.00\n6,934.70\n6,185.70\n6,948.40\n8,537.30\n8,638.90\n9,474.30\n20,167.60\n428.90\n$156.77\n90.00\n60.00\n45.00\n92.00\n72.58\n190.79\n131.36\n189.00\n109.35\n159.37\n130.65\n$100.00\n100.00\n100.00\n75.00\n75.00\n86.00\n75.00\n75.00\n75.00\n100.00\n100.00\n100.00\n$521.67\n417.74\n434.00\n414.02\n592.00\n567.48\n517.33\n417.08\n215.16\n197.85\n126.15\n52.00\n$505.54\n558.00\n206.30\n64.00\n174.59\n106.26\n30.59\n124.77\n$10,981.71\n13,082.22\n11,970.19\n10,482.26\n11,177.27\n12,252.36\n12,174.76\n13,456.59\n3,419.15\n14,619.48\n24,977.26\n7,122.62\n8,385.10\n$1,426.87\n$1,061.00\n,,472.48\n$1,770.05\n$145,715.87\nCollections, fiscal year 1945-46\nCollections, fiscal year 1944-45\nIncrease, 1945-46 \t\n$145,715.87\n133,434.48\n$12,281.39\nProvincial Mental Hospital, Essondale, 1945-46.\nMonth.\nContracts.\nEstates\nlocated.\nCollections.\nPrivate\npaying.\nEstates.\nHome for\nAged.\n1945.\n19\n28\n34\n18\n22\n28\n22\n25\n18\n24\n14\n20\n20\n21\n27\n20\n18\n19\n14\n14\n10\n18\n15\n30\n$2,157.25\n2,199.41\n3,222.27\n8,090.24\n2,301.51\n1,957.45\n1,861.65\n3,910.75\n2,122.93\n3,539.97\n2,449.55\n6,129.49\n$2,441.63\n772.04\n2,851.73\n2,721.71\n373.53\n2,770.95\n1,071.28\n679.40\n541.08\n1,115.03\n4,021.65\n1,061.03\n$19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n19.00\n1946.\nMarch\t\nTotals\t\n272\n226\n$39,942.47\n$20,421.06\n$152.00\n$39,942.47\n31,797.88\n$20,421.06\n31,622.29\n$152.00\n882.18\n$8,144.59*\n$ll,201.23t\n$730.18f\n* Increase.\nt Decrease.\nTotal Provincial Mental Hospital collections, $348,782.29, include the above amount\nof $39,942.47.\nTotal Provincial Home for the Aged collections, $39,529.94, include the above\namount of $152.\n(N.B.\u00E2\u0080\u0094All private paying contracts in connection with the Provincial Mental\nHospital are made through this office, but it is optional whether maintenance accounts\nare paid to this office or direct to the hospital.)\n(N.B.\u00E2\u0080\u0094All collections re estates of patients in the Provincial Mental Hospital are\nremitted by this office direct to the Inspector of Municipalities, Victoria.) S 28\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nProvincial Infirmary, Marpole.\nEstate Collections, Fiscal Year 1945-46.\n1945.\nApril \t\nMay \t\nJune \t\nJuly \t\nAugust ....\nSeptember\nOctober ...\nNovember\nDecember\n1946.\nJanuary _\nFebruary _\nMarch \t\n $222.65\n 503.65\n 92.44\n 1,121.36\n : 129.86\n 44.82\n 164.39\n 892.96\n 1 320.88\n 879.76\n 135.50\n 31.50\n $4,539.77\nProvincial Infirmary collections, fiscal year 1945-46 $4,539.77\nProvincial Infirmary collections, fiscal year 1944-45 4,353.61\nTotal\nIncrease\n$186.16\nNumber of estates of patients in the Provincial Infirmary administered by this\noffice during 1945-46, 27.\nJ. G. McRae,\nCollector of Institutional Revenue. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 29\nFAMILY SERVICE.\nFamily Service is, as the term implies, a service to families. In this sense it covers\nall categories and is the type of service which the social worker takes to individuals and\nfamilies in need.\nFor purposes of administration it is necessary to differentiate between the generalized service to families and that which is given under the supervision of the Child\nWelfare Division and other specialized agencies.\nFamily Service Division is responsible for the administration of general services,\nincluding Family Service where no financial aid is given, Mothers' Allowances, and\nSocial Allowances, the latter two of which are dealt with under their respective\nheadings.\nThe family is the basic unit of society. Social work has always concerned itself\nwith the family as the primary social unit, and social case work has developed to assist\nthe individual in his struggle to relate himself to his family, to his natural group, and\nto his community. The individual's manner of living is conditioned by his own and the\ncommunity's concept of the family pattern. It is through his feelings and his experience that we work in our efforts to help him take responsibility for himself. When the\nfamily, either as a group or in its individual members, suffers disruption, the community suffers. The aim of Family Service, therefore, is to strengthen and maintain\nthe family in the knowledge that \" the things men live for and live by, the things that\nare most precious to them and that give life meaning, are to be found in the stuff of\nwhich the family is made.\"\nReferrals for Family Service have come from the following sources:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n(1.) Direct request from the individual or family concerned.\n(2.) Other Divisions of the Social Welfare Branch.\n(3.) Juvenile Courts and industrial schools.\n(4.) Public and private agencies, within the Province and without.\n(5.) School for the Deaf and the Blind.\n(6.) Junior Red Cross.\n(7.) Federal Departments:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n(a.) Department of National Defence (military services and overseas wives).\n(&.) Department of National Health and Welfare (Family Allowances).\nThe changing picture in the extension of services since the establishment of the\nFamily Service Division in October, 1944, has not yet permitted the development of\na statistical pattern. The following statistics will give some indication, however, of\nthe scope of Family Service.\nGeneral Statistics.\nCases carried over from the year 1944-45 132\nNew cases opened in the year 1945-46 676\nCases closed in the year 1945-46 293 S 30 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nClassification of New Cases on Basis of Referral.\nTotal.\nFamilies making direct request for service in connection with\nthe following major problems 281\nPotential neglect 7\nMarital problems 103\nCriminal offences 32\nJuvenile delinquency 28\nIll-health 12\nBehaviour problems of children 33\nCounselling service on a variety of problems 66\nCases referred for continuing and follow-up service from\ndivisions giving specialized services 211\nChild Welfare division 166\nMental hospital 7\nTuberculosis social service 14\nInspector of Hospitals office 4\nProvincial Police 16\nFamily Courts 4\nCases referred from industrial schools 26\nCases referred from public and private agencies 80\nCases referred from the School for the Deaf and the Blind 2\nCases referred from Junior Red Cross 10\nCases referred from Federal Departments 66\n(a.) Department of National Defence 21\n(b.) Department of Health and Welfare (Family\nAllowance, January to March, inclusive) 45\nTotal new cases 676\nCounselling service is a major function and in terms of results has been most\neffective. The following case is typical.\nMr. Blank was in the prime of his manhood and was proudly building towards\na home for his wife and three children when he became afflicted with a paralysis which\nleft him so badly crippled that after many months he could only get about with the aid\nof crutches. When Mr. Blank's savings were exhausted, it was necessary for him to\naccept financial assistance. This, while it provided food and shelter, was an irritation\nto the soul and an element in the factors making towards family breakdown. Over\na period of months the social worker gave intensive service. She interpreted the\nfinancial assistance as temporary aid. She brought to the family resources from\nwithin and without, and through continued effort the family regained enthusiasm to\ncarry on. Provision was made for Mr. Blank to learn a new trade. He will shortly\nbe self-supporting. \u00C2\u00B0\nIt is our belief and experience that where the case-work point of view permeates\nthe public welfare programme, both the taxpayer and the recipient of public assistance\nbenefit thereby. In so far as is possible the client is served by a trained and experienced worker who has a real interest in his welfare, who individualizes his problem, who\nsees that assistance is given fairly and thoughtfully, and who brings to him the available resources of the community with a view to restoring him to the greatest possible\nmeasure of independence and self-support. Our concern is the prevention of human\nbreakdown and the preservation and rehabilitation of self-sustaining families.\nA. L. Mess,\nSupervisor. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 31\nMEDICAL SERVICES DIVISION.\nThere has been very little change in the work done in the Provincial Medical\nServices Division since our report covering the previous fiscal year.\nOur principal duties consist of carrying out a programme for the purpose of\nproviding general and special medical, dental, and optical services to persons in receipt\nof Social Allowances, Mothers' Allowances, Old-age Pensions, and Blind Pensions.\nConsideration is also given to persons who are not in receipt of assistance, but whose\nincome will not permit any additional expenses apart from the bare necessities of life.\nMedical services have also recently been extended to include the dependent of an old-age\npensioner.\nInsulin is supplied to diabetic War Veterans' Allowance cases through this office.\nArranging and providing transportation for Social Assistance cases, etc., to and\nfrom hospitals and doctors' offices for diagnosis and treatment comes within the scope\nof our work.\nAll accounts for the above-mentioned services are received in this office and are\nchecked and passed for payment, together with all druggists' accounts.\nThe Provincial Government Dispensary is under the direct supervision of this\noffice, and we are responsible for its staff and their salaries. Prescriptions are dispensed to the City of Vancouver at a very low price. The drug requirements of the\nProvincial Infirmaries at Marpole and Allco are also taken care of through the\nDispensary. Insulin and drugs are sent from there to patients in outlying districts,\nand drugs and dressings to nurses in isolated areas.\nOur pharmacist is responsible for checking prescription accounts received from\ndruggists throughout the Province before payment is made through this office.\nFollowing will be found the financial statement of the expenditure by this Division and set out in comparison with the previous fiscal year. This statement shows\nthe expenditure of the Division in the five regions of the Province and under various\nheadings. In the column headed \" Sundry \" are included the payments to municipalities under the general medical services plan and payments to doctors in certain areas\nwho are on a per capita per month basis. There has been a substantial increase in\nthe expenditure by this Division, which is doubtless due to more persons availing\nthemselves of these services.\nComparative Statement of Expenditure, Fiscal Years 1944-45 and 1945-46.\nRegional\nDistrict.\nFiscal\nYear.\nHospitals.\nDoctors'\nAccounts.\nPrescriptions.\nDental.\nOptical.\nTransportation.\nSundry.\nTotals.\nNo. 1\t\nI\n1944-45 $35.00\n$8,785.34\n12,089.27\n3,417.39\n3,615.72\n$10,064.89\n11,064.24\n12,941.81\n17,542.00\n$173.50\n1,052.50\n54.00\n1,065.00\n$162.50\n312.45\n149.00\n710.24\n$334.45\n268.10\n170.55\n190.58\n$6,828.15\n7,499.25\n33,095.52\n37,154.85\n$26,383.83\nNo. 2\t\n1945-46\n1944-45\n1945-46\n1944-45\n1945-46\n1944-45\n1945-46\n1944-45\n1945-46\n1944-45\n1945-46\n70.00\n44.00\n2,258.95\n32,355.81\n49,872.27\nDispensary..\n62,537.34\n1,340.83\n1,180.36\nNo. 3\n10,077.38\n11,746.05\n5,694.93\n8,642.50\n6,234.40\n7,875.35\n4,916.42\n5,487.06\n2,445.08\n3,446.09\n2,585.09\n3,308.01\n210.00\n574.50\n78.00\n208.00\n191.50\n393.00\n225.00\n172.37\n240.00\n28.50\n50.00\n121.50\n209.55\n471.95\n229.66\n456.40\n2,153.65\n2,217.43\n2,354.66\n2,207.47\n2,435.80\n17,855.78\nNo. 4\n30.00\n20,836.59\n10,895.14\nNo 5\n12.50\n218.15\n610.95\n15,229.79\n11,432.79\n1,821.19\n14,130.00\nTotals...\n1944-45\n1945-46\n$297.15\n2,982.40\n$34,209.44\n43,968.89\n$32,953.29\n40,847.40\n$707.00\n3,293.00\n$826.50\n1,345.06\n$3,097.86 | $44,348.57\n3,208.22 | 49,444.56\n$117,780.64\n146,269.89\nRegional Districts Nos.\n1945-46, $146,269.89.\n1 to 5: Fiscal year 1944-45, $117,780.64; fiscal year\nA. S. Simpson, M.D.,\nActing Director, Medical Services Division. S 32\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nMOTHERS' ALLOWANCES.\nThe graph on the following page presents the case-load and expenditure under\nthis form of social assistance since its inception in 1920. In May, 1940, there were\n1,778 mothers on allowance, an all-time high, but since that date there has been a\nsteady decrease in both case-load and expenditure. The following table shows the\nexpenditure and percentage change during the past six years:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nFiscal Year.\nTotal\nExpenditure.\nChange over\nPrevious Year.\nPercentage\nChange.\n1940-41\t\n$798,097.32\n751,835.56\n667,213.02\n581,541.29\n528,442.87\n498,901.72\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 $12,590.80\n\u00E2\u0080\u009446,261.76\n\u00E2\u0080\u009484,622.50\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 85,671.73\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 53,098.42\n\u00E2\u0080\u009429,541.15\n\u00E2\u0080\u00941.55\n1941-42\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 5.79\n1942-43\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 11.26\n1943-44 -\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 12.85\n1944-45\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u00949.13\n1945-46\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 5.81\nDuring this fiscal year 197 allowances were cancelled and for the following\nreasons:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAnalysis of Cancelled Cases.\nReason for Cancellation.\nEarnings in excess\t\nNo. of Cases.\n__ 43\nMother remarried 38\nIneligible because of age of children 24\nChildren under 18 years ceased attending school 20\nHusband ceased to be totally disabled 18\nChildren under 16 years ceased attending school 10\nUnearned income in excess (War Veterans' Allowance, Dependents' Allowance, etc.) 10\nPersonal property in excess 9\nMother ceased to be fit and proper person 8\nChildren employed and able to supports\nOnly child removed from home\t\nMother in hospital indefinitely\t\nHusband released from penitentiary\t\nMother deceased\nRemoved from Province.\nOf the 197 cases cancelled during the year, the following table shows the length\nof time they had been on allowance:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nYears 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17\nCases 23 23 16 25 17 10 18 22 11 6 4 4 7 2 5 2 2\nTotal, 197. Average length of time on allowance, 5.96 years.\nAs at April 1st, 1945, there were on hand fourteen applications received during\nthe previous year but on which it had been impossible to make a decision. During the\nyear 205 new and reapplications were received, making a total of 219 to deal with. Of\nthis number, four applications were withdrawn and the others were disposed of as\nfollows:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAllowances granted 162\nAllowances refused 43 NET EXPENDITURE\nPOPULATION\nCASE LOAD\naa,ooo\n2000\n70.000\n1000\nJ\u00C2\u00AB,000\n1000\nea\ooo\n1700\n64.000\n*^\"W\nK00\n80,000\n\t\n1500\n\u00C2\u00AB\u00C2\u00AB.\n^^^^^^\nJf~\nMOO\nSXfiOO\n~ ^^^\n1300\nA&poo\n1200\n44000\nBOO\n1000\n3^,000\n]\nw\n'^z\n^k. \u00E2\u0080\u0094<\u00E2\u0096\u00A0 >\nmm\nrUfiOO\n/\n1\n%-/\n/\n<00\n/\n\u00E2\u0080\u00A2*0\n400\n1\n500\n400\n4,000\ntoo\no\n0\n192C\n1021\n1022\n1023\n1024.\n1922\n1026\n1027\n1\u00C2\u00A923\n1020\n103O\n1031\n1032\n1033\n1034-\nJ035\n1036\n1037\n193d\n1039\n104-O\n1041\n1042\n1043\n1044\n1045\nMOTHERS ALLOWANCES\nBRITISH COLUMBIA\nLEGEND:\u00E2\u0080\u0094NET EXPENDITURE\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 CASE LOAD\nPOPULATION fc\u00C2\u00ABfe - \u00C2\u00AB.* n* c\u00C2\u00AB\u00C2\u00AB4rtw) REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 33\nA breakdown of reasons for refusal discloses the following:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nReasons for Refusal. Cases.\nPersonal property in excess 11\nMother's earnings in excess 7\nHusband not totally disabled 7\nUnable to fulfil residence requirements 4\nSocial Allowance considered preferable form of assistance 4\nOlder children supporting 3\nNot legally married 2\nIncome 2\nNot deserted by husband 1\nNo dependent children in age-group 1\nSection 6 of Act 1\nTotal 43\nDuring the year there were no amendments to the Act, but by Order in Council\nNo. 1171, dated July 10th, 1945, section 10 (b) of the regulations was amended to read\nas follows: \"A woman who pays rent or who is making payments on her home or who\nhas an encumbrance against her home may be granted $5 more per month than a woman\nwho owns her home free of encumbrance.\" This amendment permitted increasing the\nallowance to a few mothers.\nThe personnel of the Mothers' Allowances Advisory Board remained unchanged\nand under the chairmanship of Mrs. I, E. Smelts, Vancouver. There were three meetings held during the year and among the subjects discussed were:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n(1.) Vocational training for boys who have left school.\n(2.) Rehabilitation of disabled husbands.\n(3.) Policy in respect to Family Allowances.\n(4.) Amendment to section 10 of the regulations.\nThe members of the Advisory Board take a very keen interest in the various\nmatters under discussion, and their recommendations are of value in the administration\nof this Act.\nA review of the case-load for the month of March, 1946, discloses that of the total\n905 cases, 350 or 38.67 per cent, were one-child cases and 294 or 32.48 per cent, were\nfamilies of only two children. Allowances were granted to 225 mothers because of\nincapacitated husbands. Tuberculosis again was the main cause of disability, being\nresponsible for 70 cases, or 31.11 per cent of the whole. This is an increase over the\nprevious year and would appear to warrant the continuation of \" T.B. Benefits,\" which\nare, of course, available to recipients of Mothers' Allowances.\nIn administering this form of social assistance, it is essential that our social\nworkers maintain a satisfactory relationship with the mothers on allowance. Caseloads remain extremely heavy throughout the Province, but I am satisfied that our field\nstaff has done all that was possible under the circumstances in ensuring that the funds\ndisbursed under the \" Mothers' Allowances Act\" achieve the maximum benefit to all\nconcerned. S 34\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nFINANCIAL STATEMENT.\nFiscal Year April 1st, 1945, to March 31st, 1946.\nAdvance received from Minister of Finance $499,500.00\nBank interest\nMonth.\nMarch\nApril __.\nAmount of\nAdvance.\n $42,150.00\nMay 41,750.00\nJune 42,300.00\nJuly 41,500.00\nAugust 41,300.00\nSeptember 41,250.00\nOctober 41,000.00\nNovember 40,750.00\nDecember 41,250.00\nJanuary 1 42,000.00\nFebruary 42,250.00\nMarch 42,000.00\n$499,500.00\nAllowances paid as follows :-\nMonth.\nApril \t\nMay \t\nJune \t\nJuly \t\nAugust\t\nSeptember \t\nOctober \t\nAmount of\nInterest.\n$0.44\n.48\n.76\n.23\n.50\n.28\n.56\n.68\n.70\n1.43\n.28\n.45\n$6.79\nDecember\nJanuary __\nFebruary\nMarch \t\n6.79\n$499,506.79\nAmount of\nAllowances.\n $41,755.43\n 42,165.81\n 42,236.27\n 41,400.92\n 41,279.94\n 40,931.44\n 40,945.74\nNovember 41,142.91\n41,665.36\n41,825.34\n41,839.08\n41,713.48\n498,901.72\nBalance to be accounted for $605.07\nThe books and records of the Mothers' Allowances Fund have been examined under\nmy direction. I hereby certify that the above statement is a true account of the\nReceipts and Disbursements of the Director of Welfare under authority of the\n\"Mothers' Allowances Act\" for twelve months ended March 31st, 1946, according to\nthe information furnished me, and as disclosed by the books and records submitted for\nmy inspection.\nJ. A. Craig,\nComptroller-General. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 35\nStatement of Credits and Refunds deducted from Total Amount of\nAllowances paid out.\nTotal amount paid out from April 1st, 1945, to March\n31st, 1946, inclusive $499,101.72\nLess refunds paid by\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nMA-8827 in April, cheque No. 369829.- $42.50\nMA-9354 in April, cheque No. 369930\u00E2\u0080\u0094 55.00\nMA-9868 in May, cheque No. 370971-- 42.50\nMA-10266 in November, cheque No.\n376600 60.00\n 200.00\n$498,901.72 S 36\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nThe following summary gives the cause of death of the husbands in cases of widows\nin receipt of assistance at March 31st, 1946:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nCause of Death.\nInfectious and parasitic diseases\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nDiphtheria \t\nInfluenza \t\nSepticaemia - \t\nSpinal meningitis \t\nTuberculosis \t\nTyphoid -\t\nCancer and other tumours\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nCancer \t\nOther tumours \t\n0\n2\n3\n9\n44\n3\n61\n65\n1\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 66\nRheumatic and other general diseases-\nArthritis \u00E2\u0080\u0094\t\nDiabetes \t\nMuscular atrophy \t\nRheumatism \t\nDiseases of the blood, etc.\u00E2\u0080\u0094-\nAnaemia \u00E2\u0080\u0094\t\nHodgkin's disease \t\nLeukeemia \t\nPurpura \t\n1\n0\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 10\n2\n3\n2\n0\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 7\nChronic poisons and intoxicants-\nToxemia \t\nDiseases of nervous system and organs of special\nsenses\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAbscess of brain \t\nBrain tumour \t\nCerebral haemorrhage \u00E2\u0080\u0094\t\nCerebral thrombosis \t\nEncephalitis \t\nEpileptic seizure \t\nGeneral paresis \t\nInsanity ^\t\nNeurasthenia \t\nNeuritis -\t\nParalysis agitans \t\nParalysis \t\nParkinson's disease \t\nThrombosis undefined \t\n7\n36\n3\n1\n1\n2\n15\n1\n1\n1\nDiseases of circulatory system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAngina pectoris \t\nAortic aneurism \t\nArteriosclerosis \t\nCoronary thrombosis and sclerosis\nCoronary occlusion \t\nEmbolism \t\nEndocarditis \t\nHeart (ill-defined) \t\nHypertension \t\nPericarditis\t\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 83\n1\n2\n19\n10\n5\n8\n81.\n5\n0\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 134\nCause of Death.\nDiseases of respiratory system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAsthma 2\nBronchiectasis 3\nBronchitis 1\nOedema glottis 1\nOedema lungs 3\nPleurisy 2\nPneumonia 40\nSilicosis 1\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 53\nDiseases of digestive system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAppendicitis 7\nColitis : 1\nGastroduodenal ulcer 10\nIntestinal obstruction 3\nIntestinal intoxication 1\nGall bladder 1\nLiver disease 4\nPancreatitis 1\nPeritonitis 8\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 36\nDiseases of genito-urinary system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nBright's disease 1\nChronic nephritis 13\nKidney trouble 3\nUraemia - 7\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 24\nViolent or accidental deaths\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAccidents 44\nBurns 2\nDrowning 13\nFractured skull 1\nMurdered 0\nPost-operative shock ._ 1\nSuicide 9\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 70\nIll-defined causes\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAsphyxia, 1\nBlindness - 0\nGeneral debility 2\nHaemorrhage 5\nOsteomyelitis 2\nOthers 0\nPoison \u00E2\u0080\u0094 2\nRupture 2\nSclerosis 3\nUlcers 0\nUnknown 2\nSuffocation \u00E2\u0080\u009E_ 1\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 20\nTotal 566 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 37\nThe causes of total disability of husbands in cases coming under the classification\nof \" husbands totally disabled \" at March 31st, 1946:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nCause of Disability.\nInfectious and parasitic diseases\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nPoliomyelitis \t\nTuberculosis \t\nCancer and other tumours\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nCancer \t\nOther tumours \t\nRheumatic and other general diseases-\nArthritis \t\nDiabetes \t\nRheumatism \t\nSpondylitis \t\n18\n1\n4\n0\nCause of Disability.\nDiseases of circulatory system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAngina pectoris 1\nArteriosclerosis 2\nCoronary sclerosis and thrombosis 6\nHeart (ill-defined) 22\nHypertension 4\nTachycardiac 1\n36\nDiseases of respiratory system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAsthma 5\nPneumonia 0\nSilicosis 1\nDiseases of the blood, etc.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAnaemia \t\nPolycythemia \t\nDiseases of nervous system and organs of special\nsenses\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nBrain tumour \t\nCerebral haemorrhage \t\nCerebral thrombosis \t\nChorea \t\nDisseminated sclerosis \t\nEczema \t\nEncephalitis \t\nEpilepsy\t\nClaucoma \t\nInsane \t\nKyphosis of spine \t\nMastoid \t\nMuscular atrophy \t\nMuscular degeneration \t\nNeurasthenia \t\nNeuritis \t\nParalysis .*\t\nParalysis agitans \t\nParkinson's disease \t\nPsychosis \t\nPsychoneurosis \t\nSpinal urebellar \t\nOthers \t\nDiseases of digestive system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nColitis 2\nGastroduodenal ulcer 8\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 10\nDiseases of genito-urinary system\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nBright's disease 1\nEpididymitis 1\nNephritis 3\nProstatitis - 1\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 6\nInjuries or accidents\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAccidents \t\nDislocated hip \t\nIll-defined causes\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nBlindness _ 10\nGeneral debility 6\nOsteomyelitis 0\nOthers 1\nPseudo-angina 1\nRupture 3\nSclerosis _ 5\nSenility 2\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094 28\nTotal 225 S 38\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nThe status and number of children of families in receipt of assistance in March,\n1946, was as follows:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nNumber of Children.\n1.\n2.\n3.\n4.\n5.\n6.\n7.\n8.\n9.\n10.\nTotal.\n234\n82\n8\n7\n3\n4\n2\n9\n1\n176\n72\n23\n8\n3\n6\n5\n1\n0\n98\n35\n4\n6\n1\n5\n2\n0\n1\n37\n15\n3\n1\n0\n1\n1\n0\n0\n9\n13\n2\n0\n0\n3\n1\n1\n0\n9\n4\n1\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n3\n2\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n1\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n1\n0\n0\n0\n0\n1\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n0\n566\nIncapacitated husbands\t\n225\n41\n22\n7\n20\n11\n11\n2\nTotals\t\n350\n294\n152\n58\n29\n14\n5\n1\n1\n1 -\n905\nNumber of individuals benefited\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nMothers \t\nHusbands \t\nChildren \t\n905\n225\n1,917\n3,047\nC. W. Lundy,\nDirector of Welfare. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 39\nOLD-AGE PENSION BOARD.\nGENERAL.\nIn the year covered by this report, an all-time high was reached, both in volume of\ncases handled and in amount of expenditure. There were 2,770 new applications\nreceived, including both old-age and blind, as compared with 2,011 the year before,\nand 2,519 pensions were granted as compared with 2,085 the year before. At the end\nof the fiscal year there were in all 16,977 pensioners on the pay-roll, compared with\n15,684 at the end of the previous fiscal year. This represents an increase of 8.24 per\ncent. Total expenditures, including pensions proper and cost-of-living bonus for both\nblind and old-age pensioners, amounted to $5,738,805.34, compared with $5,361,102.41\nin 1944-45. This shows an increase of $377,702.93 or 7.04 per cent.\nThese increases would appear to be due largely to the natural increase in the\nnumber of persons in the Province of pensionable age. In addition, however, it is noted\nthat the percentage of old-age pensioners to the total number of people in the Province\nover 70 years of age increased in 1945-46. The percentage last year was 33.36, whereas\nit was 35.40 at the end of this fiscal year.\nDue to the change in policy outlined in last year's report respecting the making\nof claims against estates, fewer claims were made and a smaller amount of money was\ncollected. Although there, were 1,299 deaths this year as compared with 1,214 last year,\nonly 111 claims were made as compared with 135 last year, and the amount collected\ndropped from $84,918.36 last year to $54,948.34 this year.\nThere were no changes in the Act or regulations during the year.\nAlthough the volume of work done was considerably greater than last year, it was\naccomplished with a slightly reduced staff and a small reduction in salary costs. This\nwas made possible by reason of the fact that the relatively large number of new persons\nwhom it had been necessary to employ during the previous year had become more\nexperienced and consequently more efficient and, in addition, there were no major\nChang6S' CHANGES IN POLICY.\nCertain changes in policy were made during the year, but none of major importance.\nChief among them were the following:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nContributions from Children.\nIn the 1943-44 report an outline was given of a scale of exemptions allowed children before expecting them to contribute towards the support of their parents. In\n1945-46 these exemptions were raised. A single son or daughter is now allowed $1,200\na year plus the amount of income tax paid before assistance is expected as compared\nwith $1,100 plus income tax as formerly, while a married son is now allowed $2,100\nplus $300 for each dependent child plus the amount of income tax paid as compared\nwith $1,800 plus $300 for each dependent child plus income tax as formerly.\nLife Interest in Property.\nHeretofore it had been the Board's policy to consider property in which the pensioner had a life interest on the basis of free rent if the pensioner was living on it, but\non the basis of 5 per cent, of its value if it was property other than that used as a home.\nAfter careful consideration, however, it was decided to continue considering on the\nbasis of free rent the property used as a home, but hereafter to take into account only\nthe income actually received from property other than that used as a home.\nRECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS.\nIn April, 1942, the Government of British Columbia commenced paying a supplementary allowance or cost-of-living bonus of $5 a month to all pensioners whose pen- S 40 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nsions were granted in this Province. As the Province of Alberta adopted the same\nplan, the two Provinces entered into a reciprocal agreement whereby each Province\nwould pay this bonus to pensioners coming from the other Province and charge the\ncost back to that Province. Thus British Columbia and Alberta pensioners were able\nto move freely from the one Province to the other without suffering any financial loss.\nIn the year 1945-46 a similar agreement was entered into with the Province of\nSaskatchewan. As Saskatchewan pays a bonus of only $3 a month, however, pensioners\nmoving from that Province to British Columbia receive only that amount, whereas\nBritish Columbia pensioners moving to Saskatchewan are paid a $5 bonus there, which,\nof course, is charged back to British Columbia.\nNo such reciprocal agreement has yet been reached with any of the six other\nProvinces.\nSOCIAL SERVICE DIVISION.\nSocial services to the aged group during the year 1945-46 have been for the most\npart an extension of those fully outlined in previous reports. An understanding and\nindividual approach to every pensioner is the key-note of the service being rendered\nby the workers in the generalized programme of the Provincial department.\nOne yearly visit is required in accordance with the \" Old Age Pensions Act \" in\norder to obtain necessary factual information. In some instances this suffices, otherwise the number of contacts, direct and indirect, made by the social worker is determined only by the situation and needs of the pensioner. The results of such efforts are\ndifficult to tabulate but are evident in the improved attitude of the pensioners and their\nfriends in their relations with the Board.\nDuring the past twelve months communications were sent out by the Supervisor of\nSocial Service on 1,075 cases referred by the district workers and the clerical staff in\nhead office. In addition, 185 of our pensioners from outside the City of Vancouver\ncalled in person at the Old-age Pension Board office, having come to the city for medical\nattention or to visit relatives. Meeting with these old folk gives us an opportunity for\nfirst-hand knowledge of, and interpretation to, the group with which we are working.\n(It must be remembered that many of our hardy pioneers choose to live in places so\nisolated that it is an achievement for a worker to make even the one required yearly\nvisit!)\nIn the course of the past year the intake social worker at head office interviewed an\naverage of 266 persons a month in relation to problems on pensions already in effect or\nmore general inquiries. This group included a wide range of pensioners, interested\nfriends, and professional persons. A continuous flow of telephone calls asking for\nexplanations of the available services takes up a large share of the time of both of\nthe social workers.\nThe Social Service Supervisor, with the assistance of other executives, has accepted\nresponsibility for seeing that our workers are provided with material which will facilitate the carrying-on of the work. At our present stage of development this has had to\nbe largely in the form of carefully prepared instructions. A regional conference on\nFamily Services in the Provincial department was held in Kamioops early in the year,\nat which one session was devoted to a full discussion of old-age pension work. The\nSupervisor also acted as chairman of a sub-committee which made a study and report\non the situation of the aged in Vancouver, at the request of the Welfare Council of\nGreater Vancouver. During the year, under the direction of the Social Service Division, twelve new workers on their way to district offices spent a short time at the\nOld-age Pension Board office in order to gain some familiarity with the set-up and\nworkings of head office. Clerical staff in the Old-age Pension Board office are also\ninterviewed by the Supervisor of Social Service at the commencement of employment in REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 41\norder that they may understand the function of this Division and the necessity of\nintegration of services with the field staff and other Provincial branches.\nMedical services must occupy a fair share of the time of any social worker associated with the aged. It would scarcely be possible to overestimate the value of the\nhealth service now available in this Province, in spite of obvious gaps. In this connection, we at head office are receiving the fullest co-operation from the Vancouver General\nHospital, the cancer clinic, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Workers\nspeak highly of the services of general practitioners and hospitals throughout the\nProvince. Service in two important areas, however, is limited and on an individual\nbasis\u00E2\u0080\u0094that of reading-glasses and dentures. There is also an increasing demand for\nhearing aids. Such appliances, since they ease the strain of disabilities and make for\nnormal living, are perhaps more important to older folk than many of the more generally accepted services. It is hoped that means may be found to meet these needs.\nTo consider further the medical aspect brings us to the question of the consideration of the chronic group. The need for making provision for the care of semi-invalids,\ninvalids, and cases of advanced senility is probably the most baffling problem which the\nsocial worker, fairly or unfairly, is expected to meet. With such facilities as we have\n(the Provincial Infirmary, Essondale, and the Home for the Aged) crowded to the\ndoors, our workers are, in far too many cases, subjected to almost intolerable pressure\nfrom relatives and interested persons in the community who feel that the burden of\ncaring for an invalid, which has become too heavy, should be immediately lifted. The\npressure, time, and effort required to make any sort of arrangements under these\ncircumstances tend to becloud the case-work problem of really suitable placement.\nOf the applicants for pension in British Columbia during the past year, only a\nsmall percentage had assets of any considerable value, 72 per cent, were living apart\nfrom their children and 50 per cent, were without marital partners. Such figures only\nserve to confirm the fact that the care of aged relatives is no longer a generally accepted\nresponsibility on the part of the younger members of a family. A serious outcome of\nthis development is the housing situation for the aged, who are in no position to compete in the housing market of to-day, and workers' reports indicate a forced acceptance\nby the old people of living standards far below health and comfort requirements.\nWorkers have noted with feelings of encouragement the interest (in some cases\nresulting in action) of various municipalities in the question of homes for ageing\npeople in their areas. The establishment by the Salvation Army of a well-planned\nhome for women is a significant step.\nWhen more of these seemingly insurmountable obstacles have been cleared from\ntheir path, our social workers will be ready and able to work more constructively in the\nservice of the aged. Meantime, efforts from the head office are constantly directed\ntowards building up an understanding relationship between the pensioners throughout\nthe Province and the district offices. From the workers in the districts must come the\ninterpretation which will make them truly the representatives of the Old-age Pension\nBoard.\nGRAPHIC PRESENTATION.\nOn the following page will be found a graphic presentation of the trends in old-age\nand blind pensions in British Columbia from the coming into force of the \" Old Age\nPensions Act \" in 1927 to the end of the fiscal year 1945-46.\nThe red line graph shows the trend in cost of pensions; the unbroken black line\nshows the trend in numbers of persons in receipt of pension; and the broken line shows\nthe trend in total population. These graphs may only be compared one with another\nin general, as they are not based on any common unit of amount. The trend of costs\ngraph is based on 72,000 units to the square. The trend of number of pensioners graph\nis based on 2,400 units to the square, and the trend of population graph is based on S 42 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\n240,000 units to the square. The graphs are made up from statistical records of the\nOld-age Pension Board and population figures from Dominion census records.\nIt will be seen from the graphs that during the first two years' operation of the\nAct there was a sharp rise in both the number of pensioners and the cost of pensions.\nThis, of course, was due to the large initial number of applicants who were granted\npensions in this period.\nAfter this early period there was a lessening in rate of increase of the number of\npensioners added to the pay-roll until the middle of 1930, when, it will be noted,\na further increase in the rate of pensions granted began and continued fairly steadily\nuntil about the middle of 1939.\nFrom the middle of 1939 until the end of 1940 the rate of increase in number of\npensioners is seen to continue evenly. This represented the early period of the war.\nThe later period of the war, beginning with the year 1941 and continuing to the latter\npart of 1943, shows a rate of increase in the number of pensioners less than in any\nformer period. However, late in 1943 it is noticed that a rise began in this rate of\nincrease, became steeper towards the end of 1944, and continued through 1945 and\ninto 1946.\nWhen the graph representing the number of old-age pensioners is compared in\na general way with the graph representing the total population of the Province, it is\nevident that at first the number of old-age pensioners increased much more quickly\nthan population, which, of course, was to be expected. This difference in percentage\nincrease, although becoming less for some time, has again shown a marked upward\ntrend during the past three years.\nWhen the graph representing the cost of pensions is compared with the graph\nrepresenting the number of pensioners, it is seen that, after the initial sharp rise,\nthe graph of cost maintained a general, regular, upward trend until the period between\nMarch and April of 1942, when there was a sharp rise, and another of about similar\namount between September and October, 1943. The first of these rises was due to the\ngranting of the cost-of-living bonus of $5 a month to pensioners in this Province by\nthe Provincial Government, which bears the full cost of this additional expenditure\nitself. The second resulted from an increase of $5 a month in the rate of pension\npayments authorized by the Dominion Government under the \" War Measures Act\"\non August 10th, 1943, by Order in Council P.C. 6367. It will be seen that although\nthe cost occasioned by the extra $5 a month under the \" War Measures Act\" resulted\nin high points in the graph for October and November, this fell off sharply during the\nnext two months. The explanation is that the $5 a month payment was made retroactive, so that there resulted an accumulation of more than one month's payment to\nbe made. A somewhat similar sharp rise followed by a decline is noticed for the\nmiddle period of 1944. This rise is explained by the amendment to the Act which\nprovided for an allowable income of $425 instead of the former $365, and the computations following this, too, were made retroactive. For this reason the highest point\non the graph was above that which otherwise would have resulted, and the following\nmonths therefore showed a recession. The trend for the past year is normal, considering the increase in the number of pensioners. mm\nq\nQ?r/?/\n\\\n-\n1\nIs\nPi\n\\n5176/\ns\n8\n*\n%\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0MrS/\nI\n\u00C2\u00A3l\n-\nt?b/\n31?6I\nJ\n^ 8\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0i-\nkj ki\n1 1\n1\n1\n-\n&\n/P6/\nN\n?\ntil\nOtrS/\n-*3-|\nCL u ^\n-\nCJ\n6\u00C2\u00A36f\n\\n9\u00C2\u00A3S/\nS3\n-\n\u00C2\u00A3E6f\n9\u00C2\u00A3\u00C2\u00A3/\n-UJ X &\n-\n^\n\nFft/\n-a m-%\n8\nk\nt.\n<-.b/\ni\nn )\n1\n*o\n3.\n-61\n8*\nk)\n^\nkl\nH\n-:bl\nn\n?6I\nb\ndbl\nR\nrfVSV\nZt\nlb/\nc REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46.\nS 43\nSTATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31st, 1946.\nOLD-AGE PENSIONS.\nTable 1.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Disposition of Applications.\nCurrent\nYear.\nNumber of new applications received 2,726\nNumber of new applications granted 2,494*\nNumber of new applicants ineligible\t\nTotal to\nMarch 31st, 1946.\n36,258\n32,621\n276*\n* Includes some held over from previous year.\nTable 2.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Miscellaneous.\nNumber of B.C. pensioners returned to B.C\t\nNumber of new \" other Province \" pensioners transferred to\nB.C\t\nNumber of B.C. pensioners transferred to other Provinces\t\nNumber of pensioners from other Provinces transferred out\nof B.C. or suspended\t\nNumber of B.C. reinstatements granted\t\nNumber of B.C. pensions suspended\t\nNumber of deaths of B.C. pensioners\t\nNumber of deaths of \" other Province \" pensioners in B.C\t\nTotal number of pensioners on pay-roll at end of fiscal year\t\nTable 3.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Causes of Ineligibility of Applicants.\nIneligible on account of age\t\nIneligible on account of residence\t\nIneligible on account of citizenship\t\n2,366\n73\n492\n120\n287\n197\n245\n1,280\n149\n16,637\n60\n19\n10\nIneligible on account of income 85\nIneligible on account of assistance from children 28\nIneligible for other miscellaneous reasons 74\nTotal number ineligible\n276\nTable 4.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Sex of New Pensioners.\nMales _\nFemales\nTotal\n1,250\n1,244\n2,494\nMarried\t\nSingle\t\nWidows ....\nWidowers\nSeparated\nDivorced _\nTable 5.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Marital Status of New Pensioners.\n 1,048\n 348\n 641\n 283\n 157\n 17\n 2,494\nTotal.. S 44 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nTable 6.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Birthplace of Applicants. _ _ .\nPer Cent.\nBritish Columbia 1 2.41\nOther parts of Canada 27.06\nThe British Isles 50.12\nOther parts of the British Empire 1.32\nThe United States 6.06\nOther foreign countries 13.03\nTable 7.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Ages of Applicants. per cent.\nAge 70 41.86\nAge 71 14.40\nAge 72 9.98\nAge 73 6.54\nAge 74 4.73\nAge 75 4.25\nAge 76 to 80 12.31\nAge 81 to 90 5.37\nAge 90 and up 0.56\nTable 8.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Ages of Pensioners at Death. per cent.\nAge 70 2.83\nAge 71 4.43\nAge 72 4.43\nAge 73 4.50\nAge 74 5.10\nAge 75 5.64\nAge 76 to 80 31.36\nAge 81 to 85 24.98\nAge 86 to 90 12.16\nAge 90 and up 4.57\nTable 9.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Living Arrangements of Applicants. per cent.\nLiving alone 27.91\nLiving with spouse \u00E2\u0096\u00A0 32.84\nLiving with spouse and children 7.94\nLiving with children 19.69\nLiving with others 10.14\nLiving in public institutions 0.84\nLiving in private institutions 0.64\nTable 10.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Economic Status of Applicants.\n(a.) Holding real property of value\u00E2\u0080\u0094 Per Cent.\nUnder $251 67.68\n$251 to $500 7.14\n$501 to $1,000 10.02\n$1,001 to $2,000 11.15\n$2,001 to $5,000 3.85\n$5,001 and up 0.16\n(6.) Holding personal property of value\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nUnder $251 74.10\n$251 to $500 13.23\n$501 to $1,000 7.98\n$1,001 to $3,000 4.57\n$3,001 and up 0.12 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 45\nTable 11.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Claims against Estates, Old-age and Blind.\nNumber of cases of deaths 1,299\nNumber of cases where claims made 111\nNumber of cases where claims were waived or withdrawn in\nfavour of beneficiaries 30\nNumber of claims on which collections were made (including\ncases from former years) 174\nTotal amount collected $54,948.34\nTable 12.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Percentage of Pensioners to Population.*\nPercentage of pensioners to the total population of the Province 1.75\nPercentage of all persons over 70 years of age to the total population of the Province 4.95\nPercentage of pensioners to the population over 70 years of age 35.40\n* Percentages based on population estimated as at March 31st, 1946.\nBLIND PENSIONS.\nTable 1.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Disposition of Applications.\nCurrent Total to\nYear. March 31st, 1946.\nNumber of new applications received 44 618\nNumber of new applications granted 25* 479\nNumber of new applicants ineligible 5* 105\nNumber of new applications withdrawn 4 \t\n* Includes some held over from previous year.\nTable 2.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Miscellaneous.\nNumber of new \" other Province\" pensioners transferred to\nB.C. 11\nNumber of B.C. pensioners transferred to other Provinces 3\nNumber of pensioners from other Provinces transferred out of\nB.C. or suspended 7\nNumber of reinstatements granted _\u00E2\u0080\u00A2_ 3\nNumber of B.C. pensions suspended 6\nNumber of deaths of pensioners 19\nNumber of deaths of \" other Province \" pensioners in B.C 3\nTotal number of pensioners on pay-roll at end of fiscal year 340\nTable 3.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Causes of Ineligibility of Applicants.\nIneligible on basis of income 1\nIneligible on basis of sight 4\nTotal number ineligible 5\nTable 4.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Sex of New Pensioners.\nMales 13\nFemales 12\nTotal ' 25 S 46 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nTable 5.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Marital Status of New Pensioners.\nMarried 9\nSingle 7\nWidows 4\nWidowers 2\nSeparated 3\nDivorced n 0\nTotal 25\nTable 6.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Birthplace of Applicants. \u00E2\u0080\u009E \u00E2\u0080\u009E .\nPer Cent.\nBritish Columbia 4.00\nOther parts of Canada 12.00\nThe British Isles 64.00\nOther parts of the British Empire 00.00\nThe United States 00.00\nOther foreign countries 20.00\nTable 7.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Ages of Applicants. \u00E2\u0080\u009E _ .\nPer Cent.\nAge 40 to 44 4.00\nAge 45 to 49 4.00\nAge 50 to 54 4.00\nAge 55 to 59 20.00\nAge 60 to 64 28.00\nAge 65 to 69 24.00\nAge 70 and up 16.00\nTable 8.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Living Arrangements of Applicants. _ _ .\nPer Cent.\nLiving alone 12.00\nLiving with spouse 32.00\nLiving with spouse and children 8.00\nLiving with children _T 12.00\nLiving with others 32.00\nLiving in public institutions 4.00\nLiving in private institutions 00.00\nTable 9.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Economic Status of Applicants.\n(a.) Holding real property of value\u00E2\u0080\u0094 per cent.\nUnder $251 68.00\n$251 to $500 12.00\n$501 to $1,000 12.00\n$1,001 and up 8.00\n(6.) Holding personal property of value\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nUnder $251 72.00\n$251 to $500 12.00\n$501 to $1,000 12.00\n$1,000 and up '. 4.00 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. 5 47\nFINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31st, 1946.\nTable 1.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Pensions.\nTotal amount paid pensioners in British Columbia\u00E2\u0080\u0094 _ . Supplementary\nPensions. Allowances. lotal.\nOld-age $4,708,531.71 $909,633.48 $5,618,165.19\nBlind 100,979.19 19,660.96 120,640.15\nTotals $4,809,510.90 $929,294.44 $5,738,805.34\nLess\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAmount of refunds from pensioners and estates\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nFrom estates of old-age pensioners $54,923.34 $54,923.34\nFrom estates of blind pensioners 25.00 25.00\nOverpayments refunded by old-\nage pensioners 2,782.72 $188.06 2,970.78\nOverpayments refunded by blind\npensioners 285.00 285.00\nMiscellaneous refunds from old-\nage pensioners 3,545.92 41.90 3,587.82\nMiscellaneous refunds from blind\npensioners 75.00 13.00 88.00\nTotals r $61,636.98 $242.96 $61,879.94\nNet amount paid pensioners in British Columbia\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nOld-age $4,647,279.73 $909,403.52 $5,556,683.25\nBlind 100,594.19 19,647.96 120,242.15\nTotals \t\nAdd\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAmount paid other Provinces on\naccount of pensioners for whom\nBritish Columbia is partly responsible\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nOld-age _ _\n$4,747,873.92 $929,051.48\n$5,676,925.40\n$24,424.66\n487.05\n$6,988.93\n135.00\n$31,413.59\nBlind \t\n622.05\nTotals \t\nLess-\nAmount received by British Columbia on account of pensioners\nfor whom other Provinces are\npartly responsible\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nOld-age \t\n$24,911.71\n$7,123.93\n$32,035.64\n$244,683.74\n4,679.70\n$62,822.99\n738.00\n$307,506.73\n5,417.70\nBlind : \t\nTotals \t\n$249,363.44\n$63,560.99\n$312,924.43 S 48 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nLess\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nAmount refunded by the Dominion\nGovernment \u00E2\u0080\u009E . Supplementary\nPensions. Allowances. Total.\nOld-age $3,485,885.07 $3,485,885.07\nBlind 75,441.39 75,441.39\nTotals $3,561,326.46 $3,561,326.46\nTotal amount paid by British Columbia\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nOld-age $941,135.58 $853,569.46 $1,794,705.04\nBlind 20,960.15 19,044.96 40,005.11\nTotals $962,095.73 $872,614.42 $1,834,710.15\nTable 2.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Administration Expenses.\nSalaries and special services $57,106.41\nPrinting and stationery 5,591.31\nPermanent equipment :\u00E2\u0080\u009E_ 3,693.86\nPostage 9,036.21\nTelegraph and telephone 1,015.32\nBank exchange 1,596.45\nTravelling expenses 181.85\nMiscellaneous 1,146.36\nTotal $79,367.77\nTable 3.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Supplementary Allowances.\nGross amount of Supplementary Allowances paid in British Columbia '. $936,175.41\nSupplementary Allowances refunded by other Provinces 63,560.99\nNet Supplementary Allowances paid by British Columbia $872,614.42\nTable 4.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Estimated Travelling and Medical Services Expenses.\nApproximate travelling expenses for field service in unorganized territory and municipalities $34,204.00\nApproximate cost of medical services in unorganized territory and municipalities 82,875.00\n(The above figures do not include expenditures by municipalities for travelling\nexpenses and medical services.)\nIn concluding this report the Board welcomes the opportunity of expressing its\nsincere appreciation for the assistance received from many sources in administering\nthe Act during the year. It would not be possible to record adequately the help\nreceived from the various social agencies, both public and private, but to all of them\nwe wish to extend our thanks. The guidance given to pensioners and applicants and\nthe friendly co-operation extended to the administration by the officials of the various\nbranches of the Old-age Pensioners' Association have been most helpful and\nencouraging. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 49\nWe wish also to commend the work of the departmental field staff, who are on the\n\" front line \" of duty. Though labouring with case-loads that must at times be discouraging, they have improved the quality of their work and have shown a splendid\nspirit.\nTo the members of the administration staff we wish to express our special appreciation. Their fine attitude and sustained effort made it possible to accomplish a heavy\nyear's work successfully.\nJ. H. Creighton,\nChairman. S 50 BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nRESEARCH CONSULTANT.\nThere were four meetings of the Advisory Committee to the Research Consultant\nduring the year, at which present and future work of the Consultant were discussed.\nAt the close of the previous fiscal year, a survey of the Boys' Industrial School was\npartly done. This project was completed first. It was a study of the Boys' Industrial\nSchool itself, as well as a study of the group of boys who had been committed there\nduring the five-year period previous to March 31st, 1940. Special attention was paid\nto boys committed through the Vancouver Juvenile Court, although records of all 350\nboys from everywhere in the Province were read and analysed. An intensive study of\nrecidivists from the Vancouver Juvenile Court was also made.\nFollowing this, a short study was made of the comparative costs of protection and\ndelinquency based on figures supplied by the Industrial Schools, the Children's Aid\nSocieties, and the Child Welfare Division. A five-year period, 1935-40, was covered,\nas well as the year 1944.\nThe main research project of the year was a survey of the Provincial Infirmary,\nundertaken at the suggestion of the Superintendent of the Provincial Infirmary. This\nstarted out to be only a study of the institution but developed into a study of chronic\ndiseases, with special reference to facilities for treatment and care in British Columbia.\nAll records of patients in the three units of the Infirmary were studied, and the units\nvisited. The Provincial Home in Kamloops was included in the survey as many of its\ninmates suffer from chronic diseases. Superintendents of some general hospitals in\nthe Province were interviewed in order to ascertain how many active beds in their\ninstitutions were occupied by chronic patients. An effort was also made to get factual\ninformation about developments for the treatment and care of chronic patients in\nother areas.\nThe next survey is still in process of being completed. This deals with the problem\nof housing for the aged in British Columbia. This problem of housing for the older\npeople is one which is being studied both in England and the United States, and there\nis therefore much literature available for study which will be helpful for planning in\nBritish Columbia.\nIsobel Harvey,\nResearch Consultant. REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BRANCH, 1945-46. S 51\nSOCIAL ALLOWANCES.\nThis form of assistance is available to unemployable persons and continues to meet\nmany situations. The report for this year shows an increase both in the numbers of\npersons receiving aid and expenditure. While the increase at present is not alarming,\nit does require examination to determine the cause. From reports we have received,\nI am of the opinion that the greater numbers seeking aid are accounted for to a considerable extent by decreasing employment opportunities. During the war years men\nand women formerly considered incapable of supporting themselves obtained employment such as they were capable of performing, and thus removed the necessity of\nfinancial assistance from private or public agencies. With the cessation of hostilities\nmany of these employment opportunities have disappeared and with a consequently\ngreater number of persons unable to provide for themselves through their own\nresources. Compared to the number receiving this form of aid in March, 1942 (14,617\npersons), the increase to date should not, I believe, create undue concern, but does\npoint up the necessity of examining and utilizing the resources at our disposal to the\nend that we fully acquaint ourselves with and utilize all possible rehabilitation\nmeasures.\nBelow is given the case-loads, municipal and Provincial, for the month of March\nin the years 1945 and 1946.\nTotal Case-load.\nMarch, 1945. March, 1946.\nMunicipal\u00E2\u0080\u0094 Municipal\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nHeads of families 843 Heads of families 983\nDependents 1,491 Dependents __jj 1,879\nSingle 2,894 Single 3,266\nTotal 5,228 Total 6,128\nProvincial\u00E2\u0080\u0094 Provincial\u00E2\u0080\u0094\u00E2\u0096\u00A0\nHeads of families 433 Heads of families 534\nDependents 951 Dependents 1,208\nSingle 999 Single 1,172\nTotal 2,383 Total 2,914\nGrand total 7,611 Grand total 9,042\nExpenditure by the Province for Social Allowances,\nMedical Services, etc.\nFiscal Year Fiscal Year\n1944-45. 1945-46.\nCases who are the responsibility of a municipality (80 per cent, paid by Province) $841,279.28 $897,595.06\nCases who are the sole responsibility of the\nProvince (100 per cent, paid by Province) 460,653.80 525,121.05\nRepatriation, transportation within the Province, nursing-home care (other than T.B.)\nfor Provincial cases 14,055.29 12,545.03\nMedical Services\u00E2\u0080\u0094Provincial and municipal\ncases (Social Allowance, Old-age Pensioners, and Mothers' Allowance cases) _ 117,780.64 146,269.89 S 52\nBRITISH COLUMBIA.\nEmergency payments\u00E2\u0080\u0094such as where family\nmay lose their home by fire or similar\ncircumstances \t\nMunicipal and Provincial cases\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n(a.) Tuberculosis nursing-home cases\t\nTuberculosis private home cases\t\nTransportation of tuberculosis cases\nComforts allowance for tuberculosis\ncases \t\nDependents of conscientious objectors\t\nDependents of enemy aliens\t\nAllowances to Saskatchewan Mennonites\t\nAllowances to Japanese persons\t\n(&.)\n(c.)\n(d.)\nFiscal Year\n1944-45.\n$2,231.14\n640.94\n53,790.61\n1,622.95\n52.50\n468.90\n4,026.57\n4,486.35\nFiscal Year\n1945-46.\n$608.17\n127,931.41\n2,002.50\n3,315.00\n1,179.30\n871.91\n856.52\n121.20\n$1,501,088.97 $1,718,417.04\nLess recovered by refund and payment\nfrom Dominion Government, \" Conscientious Objectors \" $468.90\nLess recovered by refund and payment\nfrom Dominion Government, \" Dependents of Enemy Aliens \" 4,026.57\nLess recovered from Province of Saskatchewan, \" Mennonite Settlers \" 4,486.35\nLess recovered by refund and payment\nfrom Dominion Government, \" Allowances to Japanese Persons \"\t\nTotal refunds $8,981.82\n$1,179.30\n871.91\n856.52\n121.20\n$3,028.93\nTotal expenditure by Province\u00E2\u0080\u0094 $1,492,107.15 $1,715,388.11\nThis form of assistance is administered by the local area, municipal or Provincial,\nin which the recipient resides. The Provincial Government's contribution to municipalities for municipal cases remained the same as in the previous year; namely,\n80 per cent, of the amount of the allowances based on our Social Allowance Guide.\nAllowances to Provincial responsibilities are assumed entirely by the Province.\nIt will be noted that there is a considerable increase in expenditure because of\nthe Government's \" control of tuberculosis \" policy. This, I believe, is accounted for\nin great measure by municipal officials becoming better acquainted with our policy\nand a realization by social workers, both municipal and Provincial, of the necessity of\nincreased allowances for persons suffering from or in contact with this disease. I feel\nconfident that this extra expenditure is making a definite contribution towards the\nobjective of \" control of tuberculosis.\"\nAllowances to Mennonite settlers were terminated during the year, as the terms\nof our agreement with the Province of Saskatchewan have been fulfilled. There is\ngood reason to believe that these people will become useful settlers in this Province.\nThe assistance granted to the dependents of conscientious objectors, interned\nenemy aliens, and certain Japanese is a responsibility of the Dominion Government,\nwho have reimbursed us for the aid granted.\nPresent indications are that an increase in this form of assistance may be expected,\ndue mainly to the reasons already set out in this report.\nC. W. Lundy,\n655-H46-8187 Director of Welfare."@en . "Legislative proceedings"@en . "J110.L5 S7"@en . "1947_V01_19_S1_S52"@en . "10.14288/1.0332428"@en . "English"@en . "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en . "Victoria, BC : Government Printer"@en . "Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia"@en . "Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia"@en . "PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Annual Report of The Social Assistance Branch of the Department of the Provincial Secretary For the Year ended March 31st 1946"@en . "Text"@en . ""@en .