Future Citizens

Future

They could have called it an orphan asylum, but they didn't. They called it a home, because that's what they intended it should be-a home.

For thirty-one years the Arizona Children's Home in Tucson, Arizona, has been making history in the care of unfortunate children.

Just a dream, at first, in the minds of a small group of women who were interested in the problems and tragedies of their fellow men, a beginning was made with a small dwelling to help meet the needs of the young state of Arizona.

The original missionary group was headed by Mrs. B. F. Daniels who, assisted by Mrs. Tom Davenport, carried through a plan to capture the interest of individuals and groups that would be responsive to such philanthropy.

Not only was there a need in Tucson for the care and happiness of dependent and homeless children, but the entire state had no facilities to care for neglected youngsters. So throughout early Arizona statehood the needs of these unfortunate children have been the consuming interest of the Arizona Childrens Home Association.

The seven and one-half acres of land on which the present home is located were donated by Mrs. Julia Attix, Tucson matron, who had been caring for two motherless children and who had become interested in the plan for a children's home.

When once the home was established, children came from the entire state of different nationalities and creeds, from varying backgrounds, of ages from birth to thirteen years.

A number of emergency needs are met. Perhaps care must be provided a tiny baby whose mother does not want him; perhaps children neglected to the point of severe hunger and acute health problems must be given immediate treatment. Maybe a mother who is critically ill has no help or friends available.

It may be care is needed for only a short time a few days, a few hours, or a few weeks. It may be months, a school year, or even several years. Each child is a case unto himself and the home handles each according to the circumstances and degree of need.

While many of the little folks are greatly undernourished when they enter and relative health problems may be theirs, careful attention is given their physical needs under the best of medical supervision. Little bodies that have shown dire neglect and mistreatment quickly respond to nourishing and balanced diet, proper treatment and loving care.

Educational opportunities are carefully and adequately provided. A portion of the original land set aside for the home was leased to the city of Tucson for the erection of a school building just across the street from the home. This was accomplished, making the elementary grades easily accessible to the younger children. Wakefield Junior High is only two blocks away and the Tucson High School is reached easily by bus when there are older children attending the upper grades. For the pre-school age group, a nursery school is sponsored in the home by the Tucson Junior Women's Club, which operates throughout the summer as well as during the school year.