WELFARE REFERRAL AGENCIES
There are eight civilian welfare agencies and three military welfare agencies which merit special
consideration. These agencies are available to the chaplain and receive many of his or her referrals:
Civilian Welfare Agencies
(1)
The American Red Cross
(2)
The United Service Organization, Inc
(3)
The Legal Aid Society
(4)
The Veterans Administration
(5)
Religious Organizations
(6)
Alcoholics Anonymous
(7)
The National Travelers Aid Society
(8)
Family Service Association of America
Military Welfare Agencies
(1) Army Emergency Relief
(2) The Army Relief Society
(3) Army Community Services
These military and civilian agencies are nation-wide but they are not the only welfare agencies
available to the chaplain. Orphanages, nursing homes, schools for retarded and handicapped children,
and other local agencies must be discovered by the chaplain, because Army dependents often need such
services. The civilian and military welfare agencies listed here will be discussed in the remainder of this
chapter.
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross as a government chartered corporation was created by Congressional
Acts of 1905, 1912, and 1916 as a corporate body within the District of Columbia. It receives funds
from popular subscriptions, not through government appropriations. Chaplains should be familiar with
AR 930-5, which provides information about the mission and operation of the Red Cross and the
objectives and policies of the Department of the Army concerning the Red Cross. The honorary
chairman of this organization is the President of the United States.
The mission of the Red Cross. Acting through local chapters and through a national
organization-staff, the Red Cross assigns personnel to military installations and activities both within the
continental United States and overseas. The Red Cross cooperates closely with military authorities as it
carries out activities supplementing the welfare, recreation and morale of military personnel. The
general policy of the Department of the Army is to facilitate the accomplishment of this Red Cross
mission.
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