Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-01-15
WELFARE WORK IS
AID FOR NEGROES
Division of State Depart
ment Has Been in Ope-
ration for Is Years
Nv WILLIAM r. JOHNSON

co,sultant and field agent on Negro
work, State Board of Charities ana
Public Welfare.
Raleigh, Jan. 15-The division OF
work among Negroes in the stare
Board of Charities and Public Wei
fare is ready to celebrate its 18th
birthday.
In 1925 the State of North Carolina
accepted an offer made by the Laura
Spellnaan Rockefeller Foundation to
finance program CT work among Ne
groes if the State would give it a
trial. From 1925 to 1881 this division
os work was, so to speak, on proba-
ton. So effective was the work that
in 1881 the North Carolina General
Assembly voted to make the service a
permanent part of the State Welfare
Department.
Through the years self-he.p on the
part of the Negro has been encourag-
ed. Communities have been organic
ed in many sections of the state as
medium through which self-expresslon
and participation in community bet
terment might be made possible.
Where organizations such as Parent
Teacher groups and other social agen-
cies were found to exist, the State Wei
fare Department has cooperated to-
wards helping to raise the standards
of living as we'll as for imp
of public school education for the Ne
gro child
The participation on the part of the
Negro in the administration of public
welfare among his own people has
been encouraged. Today there are
more than two score Negroes serving
in various parts of the State as case
workers and child welfare workers IN
county welfare departments, proba-
ton officers in juvenile courts, and
as truant officers. This number is
woefully Inadequate. In every county
and city in North Carolina where the
Negro population is from one-fou. tn
to one-half of the total there should
be from one to three or more COM
petent Negro social workers. Wher-
ever a Negro has been employed by
the Division of Negro work efficiency
and training have been stressed. 1t
is felt that well-trained Negroes with
well-directed attitudes can get the
best results working with their own
people. Truly, they know one another
better. Further, the morale of the
Negro family is raised when one of
their own group, with the proper at
titude. is sent into their home
Each year an institute is conducted
during the first Or second week in
February for Negro social workers.
This institute is held at st. Augustine
College in Raleigh. The proximity to
ho or al orfY11 nY1t cr;xy
the workers the benefit of the fine
counsel of the State staff. The Insti-
tute is not wholly confined to social
workers, but each year Jeanes super
visors, farm agents and health work
ers, as we'll as other interested per-
sons, take part. This years institute
will be conducted on February 8, 10,
and II. full program Of activities
will be announced later.
The division of work among Ne
groes frequently has been called upon
for consultation by other State de-
partments. In the early stages of the
WiPA and NYA, and the early deve-
lopment of health work among Ne
grOes, the consultant was called in. At
present, as in former days, the con-
sultant is called in from time to time
by the parole office to assist in max
ing adjustments for prisoners to be
paroled and to confer on general prob
lens that concern those who are un-
der the supervision of the parole of
flee.
The State Unemployment Compen-
sation Commission recently called
upon this Division to assist in the Sc
lection of competent Negroes to be
attached to the 10th district employ
ment offices as claim interviewers.
These persons already are at work
Active participation is taken in the
activities of the North Carolina Com
mission on Interracial Cooperation. At
present the Division prepares large
exhibit featuring the various phases
Of Negro life in North Carolina for
the annual meetings of the Commits
sion. It is felt that much of the pro-
gress of this Division has been made
through interracial understanding.
Through public relations thousands
of students and summer school teach
ers are reached with lectures on pub
lie welfare and interracial attitudes.