Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-01-18
Would Provide Aid For Mothers Who
Are Unable Financially To Care
For Their Children.

Raleigh, Jan. ia bill to pro-
vide aid for mothers who are men
tally, morally and physically able to
care for their children, but who are
financially unable to do so will be
proposed to the general assembly by
various civic and fratennal organi-
cations in the state including the
North Carolina legislative council of
women with the approval of the state
board of charities and public well
fare, it was announced here today.
Such aid will mean the annual ex-
penditure of 100000 by the state
and several counties. 1t is planned
that the state appropriate $4,000 a
year from which appropriations made
by counties which take advantage of
the bill will be matched dollar for
dollar. 1t will be permissive with
the several counties whether use in
made of such provision.
There are now approximately g.
900 in the state who are in need of
the benefits of such legislation and
for whom there is no room in the
Orphanages OF the state, declared
Mrs. Kate Burr Johnson, commission
er of public welfare The whole
idea Of mothers aid law is that the
home is the most satisfactory place
for the rearing of the child and that
mother and child should not be sep
Grated for reasons of poverty only, it
was explained. 1t is generally admit
ted, the commissioner stated, that
institutional life, however good, can
never be as advantageous for the
development of the child as nor
NAL home life.
No new machinery will be required
for the administration of motrer's
aid in North Carolina, according to
the commissioner, as the funds would
be adminimtered by the state board
of charities and public welfare offic-
ers acting under their respective
boards of the county commissioners.
Recommendation for benefit under
this law would be made by Judge of
the juvenile court and the county
board of public welfare Subject to
the approval of the state board Of
charities and public welfare after
investigation.
North Carolina is one of the six
states only which at present have
no form of mothers aid. The idea
is steadily growing in popularity, un-
der standing and execution. The law
differs in different states as to the
requirements for the mother who
shall receive aid. In the proposed law
for the state a mother shall be eli
gible for benefits if she be a widow
or divorced or deserted, if it be found
impossible to require the husband to
support her, or the husband is found
to be mentally or physical incapaci-
tated to, support his family, or if
he is confined to any penal or ell
emosynary institution, provided no
relative is able and willing to under
take to aid the woman efficiently
The beneficiary must have been a
resident of the state for three years
and the county one year. Each case
will require thorough investigation
and constitute a particular problem
and it is here that the careful super
vision of the state board of charities
and public welfare will be of special
value.
An interesting system of mother S
aid is being used at present by Rev.
M. L. Kesler, surerintendent of the
Baptist Crphanage at Thomasville,
Mr.. Kesler has been administering
mothers aid to more than $50 fam
lies and has expressed his opinion
that much better work can be done
when families are kept intact. y