However, in countries where there are few social welfare agencies, we serve people directly.

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The report, by children's charity Buttle UK, looked at 80 children who are looked after by family members outside of child welfare agencies.

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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is among many animal welfare agencies that are trying to help the hundreds of thousands of creatures victimized by the hurricane.

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These children are very damaged -- very harmed, and they need a great deal of help -- it's really taxing the social welfare agencies and it's something that, going forward, we need to pay particular attention to.

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Michael Wishnie, a Yale law professor who has been retained by the city to fight any court challenges, points out the cards are no different from records already possessed by the Internal Revenue Service and by health and welfare agencies.

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"In principle, we welcome the idea of the simplification in welfare - the idea that fewer agencies will be involved in the directing of clients and less duplication makes sense, " he said.

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Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris suggested religious organisations carrying out public welfare functions should be gradually replaced with "secular-governed" agencies.

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With federal agencies and law enforcement agencies overwhelmed with rescuing people, it has been left to animal welfare groups and civilians to help stranded pets.

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In many areas of welfare and care the authority had aimed to make savings in the way it worked with other agencies.

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