Presidents:
1970-1972 Katherine Bauer
1972-1974 Janet Newberger*
1974-1976 Bette Miller
1976-1978 Betty Dreyfus
1978-1980 Sylvia Lynn Benenson

* of blessed memory

1970 brought a social worker in the Jail with NCJW paying his salary. A first for Dallas! The first NCJW Summit meeting in Israel, which included dinner with Golda Meir at the Knesset, occurred in 1971, and its President represented Section.

During 1972-1973 NCJW sponsored a daylong seminar: “Justice for Children” with Judge Justine Wise Polier, a New York Family Court Judge, as keynote speaker. The co-sponsoring and participating groups read like a who’s who of Dallas community groups – at least thirty organizations. Topics discussed included creative use of volunteers.

1974-1976 found Section involved in an advisory role with the Committee for the Smooth Transition, working with the Dallas Independent School District on the smooth implementation of the desegregation process. The Community Service Department undertook several new initiatives including: The Consumer Alliance project, day care staff training, Elder Artisan Program (Texas Collectable), the Family Outreach Center and Community Board Institute, which continues to this day. A conference titled In Search of Safer Senior Years: A Workshop Against Crime was held and as a follow-up, 150,000 “Yardsticks” with telephone numbers and helpful information for senior safety were published and distributed in the community.

The Working Parents: Concerns and Choices forum celebrated the Bicentennial Year, with co-sponsors Child Care ’76 of Greater Dallas and the Texas State Department of Public Welfare (DPS). The featured speaker was Liz Carpenter, former White House Press Secretary.

In 1976, Section received an award of highest commendation from the Texas Department of Public Welfare because of continued effort on behalf of the recipients of that department, and also received a second award from Eastfield College for our Day Care Staff Training Program. In May 1976, Section gave a $6,000 grant, which was matched by the Law Enforcement Agency, in order to hold a forum on Status Offenders in Washington D.C. Section held a second forum in Dallas in December 1976. As a result, the Texas Coalition for Juvenile Justice was formed.

Section hosted the 33rd NCJW National Biennial Convention in 1979. Over 300 local volunteers participated, receiving accolades from all participants. A resolution on “gun control” was so controversial that doors were locked to prevent delegates from leaving the session. Section helped organize the Women’s Issues Network, and provided the first funding for Family Place, a refuge for victims of domestic violence.

In 1979, Section launched Foster Child Advocate Services to provide intensive training for volunteers. FOCAS is now an independent agency, DALLAS CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) that serves children in placement through Family Court.