Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-06-12
SATURDAY AFTERNoo N, JUNE 12, 1897
SOCIAL AID WON'T
HURT ORPHANACES
Will Be Just AS Much Need
for Their Support in Flu
ture AS Ever

Raleigh, June 12.-SoEle friends of
the various crphanages in North Car
DINA, which for years have rendered
splendid service to thousands of un-
fortunate children of the State, have
expressed fears that when the social
security act goes into effect on July
1, the Aid to Dependent N..ildren fea-
ture of that humanitarian legislation
Will react to their financial disadvan-
tage.
1t has been stated that there is pre-
valent in some sections of the state
belief that many citizens who have
been liberal contributors to orphan
ages will be inclined to lessen their
benefactions, laboring under the mis-
apprehension that the new social Sc
curity statute will greatly reduce the
burdens of the child-care institutions.
The State Board of Charities and
Public Welfare, which will have
charge of administering the social
security program, has issued a state
ment which says that only those de-
pendent children who has no visible
means of support, and whose relatives
can give them proper care will be ELI
gible for benefits under the Child aid
provisions of the statute. The board
urges those who have supported Or
phanages in the past to continue their
benefactions, because they will be
needed as much in the future as ever
before. -.
The statement follows: tst
"The sum of $1,50O,0OO will be avail
able in North Carolina on July 1 for
Aid to Dependent children in their
own homes or in the homes of near
relatives. This public fund, which will
be administered by the public welfare
departments of the state and counties,
will provide for approximately II 900
children, and will go far toward re-
lieving the need of dependent chill
dren in the state. But a large num-
her of dependent children cannot be
aided through this fund because their
parents and relatives are not proper
guardians, and therefore they must
be referred to some children's agency
for help.
North Carolina now has twenty
seven child-caring institutions which
have a combined population of ap-
proximately $500 dependent children
With the exception of one or two,
they are all filled to capacity and
have long waiting lists of children
eligible for admission but whom
they are unable to admit. These in
situations long carried a large part of
the burden of child welfare in this
state. They have been and are ex
pected to continue pioneers in devel
oping better methods of child care.
MANY children who hitherto look
ed to the orphanage for help will be
aided now in their own homes thro-
ugh the Aid to Dependent Children
section of the social security act, max
ing it possible for the institutions to
take in children long on their watt
ing lists who are not eligible for this
type of care. ~-N.
supporters of these institutions
must not forget that the social Sc
curity provisions take care only Of
the child with parent or relative
capable of giving him proper care
and prevented only by limited fin
ances. This leaves many children who
are, in a final analysis, in worse plight
because their relatives, if they have
any, are not suitable guardians. The
orphanages have served some of these
children in the past and now, because
a part of the burden has been re-
moved, will be in a better position
|. than ever before to assist in meet
ing the crying need of helpless chill
dren in the state.
"The child welfare program in
North Carolina would be easily handi-
capped without the orphanages, as a
well-rounded child welfare program
demands private as well as public
child-caring agencies. The socially
minded, farsighted citizen will be rem
dering a distinct service to humanity
to continue his or her contributions
to the orphanages and other private
children's agencies"