Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-07-14
Welfare Board Is
Concerned With A
Financial Program
Shortage Of State Funds
Exists; Old Age Appli-.
cations Increase

Montgomery County Welfare Board,
held on July 6, the prograss of
the agency during the past month
was reviewed. Discussion centered
about the future financial status of
the organization, the possibility of
more rapid investigation of applica-
lions for assistance, and plans for
further community Interpretation.
Fred L. Lutes, Chairman Of
the Board, reported that the Board
of County Commissioners had recon-
sidered its original action in regard
to the county budget and had allo-
Gated to the Welfare Board 35,S41.35
as the county share of the funds to
be expended during the current fiscal
year. This amount is $1684.29 less
than the sum originally requested by
the Welfare Board, but this decrease
is due to an adjustment in the tax
base to be used in the one cent levy
for Aid to Dependent Children. Since
the State is expected to meet the diff
ference between county and federal
contributions for this type of assist
ance, this change is not expected to
affect the total amount of money
available to the Welfare Board.
Mrs. Dorothy M. Kurtz, executive
secretary, reported that shortage in
State funds exists during the current
quarter, and that the Welfare Board
has not been granted the full amount
requested in its quarterly estimate.
Funds are available to meet present
obligations, but it will be necessary to
secure the approval of the Board of
State Aid and Charities for each new
grant made during July, August and
September before money will be
Forthcoming for these cases. Because
of the shortage of funds available for
distribution to the county welfare
boards, this procedure has been
adopted to insure the fact that no
county receives an ALLEGATION of more
than is absolutely necessary during a
given month.
1t was reported that an increasing
number of applications for Old Age
Assistance and Aid to Dependent
Children is being received each
month, and that consequently the re-
cent effort to increase the number of
Investigations completed monthly has
served only to prevent the present
pending list from rising in number.
A new worker is to be added to the
staff during the coming week and it
is hoped that her services will reduce
the present waiting period between
the date of application and the COM
pletion of the necessary investigation
to determine eligibility.
In order that the pending list will
present more accurate picture Of the
number of applications actually
awaiting investigation, it was decided
to close all pending cases in which
there is insufficient proof of age, resi-
dence, etc. available when such proof
of eligibility can be presented, the APP
plicant may make re-application for
assistance.
AS result of the Boards plan to
expand the present services in COM
munity Interpretation, it was an
nounced that letters have been sent to
IS clubs and community organiza-
tons offering to provide written ma
terial, speakers, or panel discussions
either to interpret the present pro.
gram and problems Of the Welfare
board or to attempt to clarity the
present division of welfare activities
in the county. The Colored Advisory
Committee, which is part of the pro-
gram of Interpretation directly spon-
sored by the Welfare Board, met en-
June 20, 1898. Future meetings OF
tEis committee and other community
councils will be arranged. Pamphle;
material now in process of ccmpill-
ton will be available to interested in
dividuals and clubs in the near future
In order to interpret the law concern
ing the licensing of independent
boarding homes, three Washington
newspapers have agreed to refuse ad-
vertisements for children to board
unless proper licenses can be pro-
.iuced.
The following report, based upon
the work Of the Welfare Board, dur
ing June, was presented: Number OF
Continued on page 81