2136                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Whereas, There is no present assurance in the State of Maryland
of the availability of a full range of resources on a statewide basis
to which institutions such as schools, churches, hospitals, clinics
and courts, as well as doctors, lawyers, social workers, public health
nurses and parents can refer an illegitimately pregnant woman
or one who has already been delivered of an illegitimate child for an
integrated counseling service aware of, and having available to it,
specialized information and resource to help the individuals and
families involved toward the end of rehabilitation and protection
of the illegitimate child; and

Whereas, Such services as do exist are often fragmented and un-
known to the persons who need them, and

Whereas, Centralization of responsibility is needed to insure
equal attention to the basic social, legal, medical, religious and eco-
nomic problems that arise in each case of illegitimacy, since in-
dividuals or specializations alone cannot be expected to recognize the
total needs involved in cases of illegitimacy or to provide the persons
involved with all of the services in which the public has millions of
dollars invested; and

Whereas, Centralization of administration would provide the
means for efficient and effective utilization of the available financial
resources to meet the problems of illegitimacy, including such federal
funds and grants in aid as may be or hereafter become available; and

Whereas, A centralized counseling service at the time of pregnancy
has been demonstrated to be one of the most practical deterrents
to repeated illegitimacies; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Board
of Public Welfare be and it is hereby requested to provide by ad-
ministrative organization within the State Department of Public
Welfare an integrated statewide social work service to counsel and
advise and be available to illegitimately pregnant women, putative
fathers and others whose circumstances may affect the health and
welfare of illegitimate children, and that it inquire into the avail-
ability of federal funds and grants in aid to assist in the mainte-
nance of this service program; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Public Welfare submit a report of
the actions it has taken pursuant to this Resolution to the members
of the General Assembly on or before January 1, 1964; and be it
further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Chairman
of the Board of Public Welfare.

Approved May 6, 1963.

No. 24
(House Joint Resolution 4)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Board of Public Works to
employ professional consultants to study the STRUCTURE, per-
sonnel administration polices and practices of the State Department
of Public Welfare with the objective of recommending THE MOST