The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-03-06
STATE WELFARE PROGRAM
IS DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL
BOARD REPRESENTATIVES
ChestOn H. Browning Repre-
sents This County at Confer
ence in Baltimore Last Week

ence in Baltimore Last Week
Mr.. Cheston H. Browning, repre-
senting the Garrett County Welfare
Board, attended a meeting in Balti-
more last week where representatives
from all of the state assembled to
discuss the Maryland public welfare
program. Mr.. ]. Milton Patterson,
state director of welfare, and repre-
sentatives from the Board of Public
Works met with the local representa-
tives, The work of the past year was
reviewed with the idea of eliminating
any practices which might be i'm
proved on and plans were made for
the ensuing year, Mr.. Browning said.
The welfare dollar was divided ac-
cordingly: Recipients of assistance re-
! ceived 81 cents out Of each dollar;
nine cents was spent to administer
the other 81 cents. The following
shows what the nine cents of the well
fare dollar actually bought through
out the state of Maryland
Services and reinvestigation of eli
gibility to an average of approx
mately $4,000 cases per month receiv-
ing all types of public assistance.
Social Investigations of an average
of 3,015 applications per month for all
types of public assistance.
Admission and discharge services to
d. children for children's institutions.
Investigations of ability to pay for
836 applicants to state mental hos
pitfalls and general hospitals.
Supervision by local welfare boards
Of $50 children in foster homes.
Licensing of 1868 foster homes; 3O6
by county welfare boards and $50 by
State Department of Public Welfare
for other child-placing agencies.
Licensing or inspections of 81 chill
dren's institutions and Is child-plac-
! ing agencies.
In addition there were 1912 ser
vices to state agencies, draft boards,
other public and private agencies, and
special services to children in their
own homes.
Investigations for referral to WPA
and NYA; 1929 persons.
Selection for enrolment in the
CCC; 4,547 boys.
Administration and distribution of
surplus commodities to monthly av-
erage of 1908 families with an an
nual value of $4O5, 3995O; to state in
situations, $2O,268.66; for school
lunches, $21,931.49; and $128,594.10
of clothing from WPA sewing rooms.
Food stamps to Baltimore city to the
value of $206,O25.O0.
Rent, equipment, record-keeping,
etc.
Another report which Mr. Browning
brought back of interest was in rela-
ton to the source of funds. During
the past year expenses were divided
accordingly: Federal funds paid for
1913 percent of all expenses; state
funds paid for 39.1 percent; local
funds paid for 21.6 percent.
This meeting revealed that moneys
to needy individuals were spent ac-
cordingly: Old age assistance, 1854
percent; aid to dependent children,
25.2; general public assistance, PIT;
public assistance to the needy blind,
1.5; administration and services other
than financial assistance, 80 percent.
All of these figures represent state
expenditures. Each county's program
is modelled according to the state plan.
However, expenses do vary in the
counties, depending upon the need and
the taxable wealth of the county. The
percentage of expenditures for vari-
Gus groups in this county, in relation
to the entire amount spent, is similar
to the percentage over the entire
state, according to Mrs. Dorothy Og-
burn, executive secretary of the
county Welfare Board
Mr.. Browning reported an interest
ing session and feels that every at
tempt is being made in Maryland to
give the people sound and useful
welfare program. Bernard l. Gender,
chairman of the county Welfare
Board, was unable to attend the meet
ing on account of illness.
Called to Duty