In the first six chapters an attempt has been made to set out certain
difficulties with which foreign-born family groups are confronted on
arrival. It has become clear that certain services skillfully rendered
might prevent a great deal of needless suffering, discomfort, and
waste, and also greatly facilitate the adjustment of the family to the
new surroundings. The services that would be appropriate to the needs
of all housewives might be classed under (1) the exercise of
hospitality; (2) supplying information and opportunities for
instruction; (3) assistance in the performance of household tasks.
Suggestions that these services might prove useful are not based
wholly on theory, and attention may at this point be directed to the
work of certain agencies which have attempted to do these various
things.
The suggestion has been frequently made that the immigrant should be
the object of certain protective care during the journey across the
ocean and on arrival.[53] The proposal here is that the community
would gain enormously through the creation of devices for the exercise
of a community hospitality. This should include the receiving and
distributing of new arrivals in such a way as to assure their being
put into touch, not only with their relatives and friends, but with
the community resources which could be of special service as well.
Attention has been called to the efforts put forth by organizations
among the foreign-speaking groups. The possibility of their more
efficient and wider activity should be always kept in mind. But the
work of the Immigrants' Protective League of Chicago, in behalf of
unaccompanied women and girls, illustrates both the nature of the task
and the way in which the development of such services requires a
familiarity with the governmental organizations and a capacity for
utilizing official agencies not to be found among the groups most
needing help.