British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 684

CHAPTER VI.

130. In 1931 the Va'ad Leumi established a central social welfare department to deal with all welfare problems, to concentrate and co-ordinate voluntary efforts, to stimulate the initiative of local authorities and to train social workers. Branch offices were opened in the main centres of Jewish settlement and central and local welfare committees were set up. This effort to establish a modern social welfare service developed slowly and, until recently, independently of Government support.

The present activities of the Va'ad Leumi central social welfare department are :-

(1) Responsibility fur policy and planning in relation to the Jewish community and for relations with Government and the Jewish Agency.

(2) Distribution of funds received from Government and Jewish organizations.

(3) Supplying information on the activities of the "Old Yishuv" institutions to subscribers abroad, chiefly in the U.S.A.

(4) The direction and inspection of local social service bureaux.
(5) Payment of direct relief to persons not falling within the jurisdiction of and local office.

(Gl The direction, inspection and partial financing of school-feeding and holiday camps in co-operation with Hadassah Organisation.

(7) The placement of children in institutions and family homes. (8) The administration of two institutions for neglected boys and girls.

(8) The administration of a training school for social workers.

131. Local social service bureaux of the Va'ad Leumi are attached to the local coucils (Va'adei Haqehiloth). There are, today, social service bureaux in 35 different centres covering 100 localities having a total Jewish population of over 300,000.

The activities of these local social service bureaux comprise :(1) The co-ordination of voluntary social work.

(2) The initiation of new welfare schemes.

(3) Family case work.

(4) Placement of children in family homes and institutions.

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