CHILDREN'S BUREAU INC history

Illinois led the way with its Funds to Parents Act in 1911; also in the same year, the legislature of Missouri authorized Jackson County (Kansas City) to provide mother’s pensions.

United States Children’s Bureau, United States federal agency established in 1912 to oversee and maintain national standards of child welfare.

The first of these bulletins for parents Prenatal Care was published in 1913.

When Infant Care was published in 1914, it was considered a daring venture.

Beginning in 1916 the Bureau undertook a whole series of studies of the conditions under which children worked in specific industries and occupations.

Children’s Year, in turn, culminated in the 1919 White House Conference on Standards of Child Welfare.

The 1920 report of the Bureau pointed out, “Most of the States (40) have now recognized the principle that children should not be taken from their mothers because of poverty alone.

Finally on November 19, 1921, the Maternity and Infancy Act (Sheppard-Towner Act) was passed by both the House and the Senate.

By its decision in May 1922 holding unconstitutional the Federal child-labor tax law, the second attempt to regulate child labor by act of Congress, the United States Supreme Court seemed to make the issue clear.

After 2 years of work, a uniform illegitimacy act was approved in 1923 and became the basis of the laws in several States.

A report was prepared in 1924 dealing briefly with the history of adoption legislation in the United States.

" Child Labor amendment and the History of Child Labor ," by Grace AbbottPublication Date: February 1925

In 1926, the Bureau issued Public Aid to Mothers of Dependent Children.

Beginning in 1928 the Bureau cooperated with the Yale University School of Medicine in a study of the causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

But the whole tenor of the Bureau’s investigations changed in 1929-30–the depression and its effects occupied the center of the Bureau’s efforts-and the grant-in-aid program was terminated.

On July 1, 1930, it took over a project of the National Association of Community Chests and Councils for the registration of social statistics.

In 1933, the Children’s Bureau cooperating with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Women’s Bureau undertook still another study–the effect of the depression on the standard of living of families of railway employees.

During these years the foundation was laid for the children’s programs under the Social Security Act (1935) by the Bureau’s administration of the Maternity and Infancy Act and its studies of child welfare, and care for crippled children.

"State Child Labor Standards," state laws on youth employment and compulsory school attendancePublication Date: July 1938

Perinatal mortality rate charts and tablesPublication Date: 1954-55

In the years ahead, Infant Care became the Government’s best seller; going through 10 editions with a total distribution by 1955 of 34,617,841.

"Trends in Data of Special Interest to the Children's Bureau," issued by the Program Analysis BranchPublication Date: March 1958

The Board prepares for transition of new CEO leadership as Alex Morales prepares to retire after 30 years of service in 2018.