State Laws Help Stop Trains
The number of Orphan Trains began to decline dramatically in the 1920's. Many
factors contributed to the decline and eventual ending of the placing out
programs.
Perhaps the most significant road block for the orphan trains was the growing
number of state legislatures that began passing laws to restrict or forbid the
interstate placement of children.
In 1887, Michigan passed the first law in the United States regulating the
placement of children within the state. Again in 1895, Michigan passed a state law
requiring out-of-state, child-placement agencies to post a bond for each child the
agency brought into the state of Michigan.
In 1899, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota enacted similar but stricter laws which had
the effect of prohibiting the placement of incorrigible, diseased, insane or criminal
children within their state boundaries.
Using these state laws as models, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North
Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota passed similar laws withing five years.
If you want to research possible state laws in your state that restricted child
placement, a good reference is Laws Relating to Interstate Placement of
Dependent Children, U.S. Children's Bureau, Government Printing Office, 1924,
Washington D.C. Compiled by Emelyn Foster Pick.
The number of Orphan Trains began to decline dramatically in the 1920's. Many
factors contributed to the decline and eventual ending of the placing out
programs.
Perhaps the most significant road block for the orphan trains was the growing
number of state legislatures that began passing laws to restrict or forbid the
interstate placement of children.
In 1887, Michigan passed the first law in the United States regulating the
placement of children within the state. Again in 1895, Michigan passed a state law
requiring out-of-state, child-placement agencies to post a bond for each child the
agency brought into the state of Michigan.
In 1899, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota enacted similar but stricter laws which had
the effect of prohibiting the placement of incorrigible, diseased, insane or criminal
children within their state boundaries.
Using these state laws as models, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North
Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota passed similar laws withing five years.
If you want to research possible state laws in your state that restricted child
placement, a good reference is Laws Relating to Interstate Placement of
Dependent Children, U.S. Children's Bureau, Government Printing Office, 1924,
Washington D.C. Compiled by Emelyn Foster Pick.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |