United States Children's Bureau
Encyclopedia
The United States Children's Bureau is a federal agency organized under the United States Department of Health and Human Services
' Administration for Children and Families
. Today, the bureau's operations involve improving child abuse
prevention, foster care
, and adoption
. Historically, its work was much broader, as shown by the 1912 act which created and funded it:
During the height of its influence, the Bureau was directed, managed, and staffed almost entirely by women—a rarity for any federal agency in the early 20th century. It was most influential in bringing the methods of reform-oriented social research and the ideas of maternalist reform
ers to bear on federal government policy.
New Deal
legislation, including the Fair Labor Standards Act
and Aid to Dependent Children programs, incorporated many reforms that the Children's Bureau and its network of grassroots women's organizations
had supported for years. By the time the Children's Bureau was folded into the Social Security Administration in 1946, it began to assume more of its modern role.
in 1912 during an era of heightened concern for general social welfare issues
in the United States. It was the first national government office in the world which focused solely on the well-being of children and their mothers. The legislation creating the agency was signed into law on April 9, 1912.
Taft appointed Julia Lathrop
as the first head of the Bureau. Lathrop, a noted maternalist reform
er, was the first woman ever to head a government agency in the United States.
At its founding, the bureau was part of the Department of Commerce and Labor; when the two departments' functions were separated in 1913, it became part of the Department of Labor.
was appointed to succeed her.
, the first federal grants-in-aid act for state-level children's health programs.
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
' Administration for Children and Families
Administration for Children and Families
The Administration for Children and Families is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . It is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. It has a $58.8 billion budget for 65 programs that target children, youth and families...
. Today, the bureau's operations involve improving child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
prevention, foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
, and adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
. Historically, its work was much broader, as shown by the 1912 act which created and funded it:
- "The said bureau shall investigate and report to [the Department of Commerce and Labor] upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of children and child life among all classes of our people, and shall especially investigate the questions of infant mortalityInfant mortalityInfant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
, the birth-rate, orphanage, juvenile courtJuvenile courtA juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
s, desertion, dangerous occupations, accidents and diseases of children, employmentChild laborChild labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
, legislation affecting children in the several states and territories."
During the height of its influence, the Bureau was directed, managed, and staffed almost entirely by women—a rarity for any federal agency in the early 20th century. It was most influential in bringing the methods of reform-oriented social research and the ideas of maternalist reform
Maternalist reform
Maternalist Reforms in the United States were experiments in public policy that took the form of laws providing for state assistance for mothers with young children that did not have the financial support of a male member of the household. This assistance took the form of financial reimbursements,...
ers to bear on federal government policy.
New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
legislation, including the Fair Labor Standards Act
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is a federal statute of the United States. The FLSA established a national minimum wage, guaranteed 'time-and-a-half' for overtime in certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors in "oppressive child labor," a term that is defined in the statute...
and Aid to Dependent Children programs, incorporated many reforms that the Children's Bureau and its network of grassroots women's organizations
General Federation of Women's Clubs
The General Federation of Women's Clubs , founded in 1890, is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service...
had supported for years. By the time the Children's Bureau was folded into the Social Security Administration in 1946, it began to assume more of its modern role.
History
Creation
The Children's Bureau was established by President William Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
in 1912 during an era of heightened concern for general social welfare issues
Progressive Era
The Progressive Era in the United States was a period of social activism and political reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s. One main goal of the Progressive movement was purification of government, as Progressives tried to eliminate corruption by exposing and undercutting political...
in the United States. It was the first national government office in the world which focused solely on the well-being of children and their mothers. The legislation creating the agency was signed into law on April 9, 1912.
Taft appointed Julia Lathrop
Julia Lathrop
Julia Clifford Lathrop was an American social reformer in the area of education, social policy, and children's welfare...
as the first head of the Bureau. Lathrop, a noted maternalist reform
Maternalist reform
Maternalist Reforms in the United States were experiments in public policy that took the form of laws providing for state assistance for mothers with young children that did not have the financial support of a male member of the household. This assistance took the form of financial reimbursements,...
er, was the first woman ever to head a government agency in the United States.
At its founding, the bureau was part of the Department of Commerce and Labor; when the two departments' functions were separated in 1913, it became part of the Department of Labor.
1912-1920
In 1921, Lathrop stepped down as director and the noted child-labor reformer Grace AbbottGrace Abbott
Grace Abbott was an American social worker who specifically worked in advancing child welfare. Her elder sister was social worker Edith Abbott....
was appointed to succeed her.
1921-1929
The Children's Bureau played a major role in the passage and administration of the Sheppard–Towner ActSheppard–Towner Act
The Sheppard–Towner Maternity and Infancy Protection Act of 1921 was a U.S. Act of Congress providing federal funding for maternity and child care. It was sponsored by Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas and Representative Horace Mann Towner of Iowa, and signed by President Warren G...
, the first federal grants-in-aid act for state-level children's health programs.
1929-1946
Katherine Lenroot succeeded Abbott as director of the Bureau in December 1934. She held this position until 1952.Post-1946
In 1946, the Children's Bureau was folded into the Social Security Administration as part of the massive postwar reorganization of the federal government.Publications
In its early years, the Children's Bureau published voluminously on many topics related to children's health and well-being, and it distributed its publications very widely. A full bibliography is impossible here, but an OpenLibrary search by author gives some sense of the range of topics.See also
- Child Abuse Reform and Enforcement Act - law aiming to "promote the improvement of information on, and protections against, child sexual abuse
- Children's Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act)Children's Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act)Children's Act for Responsible Employment is a United States bill that would bring parity of labor conditions to children field workers that are afforded to minors in other occupations...
- a bill (proposed law) to bring parity of labor conditions to minor field workers that are afforded to minors in other occupations.