Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-11-17

Security Act started in August.
1896. and during that time definite
stems have been taken to lay q
strong foundation In building pro-
gram that would provide care and
humane consideration to the under
privileged who turn to the program
for aid.
At the present time, the Morgan
county public assistance program IS
caring for 80 dependent children
representing 38 families in the
county. In addition. it is providing
care of 10 INDECENT blind persons
and Is crippled children.
The dependent children being aid
ed are youngsters-most of them
under 16 years OF age-who lost the
support of their family wage-earn-
ers through such causes as deatn'
physical or mental incapacity, or
continued absence from the home. !.
They are children who because o.
this programs presence have been
kept together in their own homes
or in homes Of blood relatives ana
are being given the opportunity to
be reared under the influence OF
their own people instead Of being
cast aside or sent to institutions, a
more costly procedure in the long
run than the current program
Throughout the state, juvenile
judges administer the I program
aiding dependent children. Here IN
Morgan county, Judge Torbert Is
in charge Of the work and is assist,
ed by staff of welfare workers
In the work to help the needy blind.
under the Ohio setup the county
commissioners are the adminstra
tors of this program.
Among the duties of the welfare
workers engaged in the public as
sistance program, is the task OF
planning with mothers and blind
recipients in order that they might
receive the maximum good out OF
the grants they get. In addition,
the welfare workers attempt TO-
make the program in the county
conform to the needs of those who
are receiving assistance.
Under the Social Security Act the
programs for dependent children
and the blind are financed by the
county, state, and federal govern
ments In the children's work, the
federal government provides one
dollar for every two dollars the
county and state eXpend in the care
of children under 16 years of age
In the blind program the federal
government matches whatever funds
are spent by the county plus the
state.
The public assistance program in
Morgan county is not merely a mon
\ 49,
tempt is constantly made to help
persons and families receiving alo
to rehabilitate themselves in order
that they might become, in part
self supporting.
From the time a family's applica.
ton for aid is approved, the county
public assistance bureau 1mmed-
lately starts planning for the ram
ily's welfare and making plans to
help the family in movements
which will ultimately result in max
ing it partially, if not entirely, sell
supporting.
The Morgan county work for the
blind aims to prevent blindness, re-
store vision, and rehabilitate the
blind. If a person upon examlna-
ton by a physician is found to De
blind, but treatment or an opera
tion might possibly restore vision
or prevent total blindness, provls'
ions are made through the program
for this treatment and care. ID
that manner, many blind persons
will have chance to have theF
vision restored and thereby can take
their places in society as useful CIT.
izens of the community instead o.
continuing dependent upon pupiic
support in later life.