Evening star., 1947-02-03
Changes Urged
By Alexandra
We|fareReport
Social Study Group
Sees Need for Public
Advice on Program
By Robert e. RolIinas

4oO 4CW RSoPlS Al <111AdkANA44n 4n w
day understand the local public
welfare program.
This is the conclusion of the tech
nicians who prepared the social sur
vey report now under study by the
Alexandria Council of Social Agen-
cies. The sections of the report
covering public welfare for families,
adults and public childrens services,
were released today by the Council.
1.-THE local government has indi-
Gated its willingness to provide more
literally for welfare needs" the re-
port declares. "It is the community s
responsibility to familarize more of
its citizens with the aims and needs
of the local welfare program as a
continuing public obligation" a
Urges Advisory Board.
Included among the recommended
tions of the report for the improve
merit of public welfare covering
families and adults are the follow
ing:
/. Establishment of an Advisory
Board for the Department of Public
Welfare.
2. Appropriation of sufficient funds
to provide for adequate standards
of assistance consistent with
fluctuating living costs and with a
reasonable provision for contingent
cieS."
8. Elimination of existing residence
restrictions for applicants.
4. Granting of assistance on the
basis of established need and extern
sion of the disqualification and
medical care program to all persons
for Mhom need can be established.
S. Raising of the salary scale of
case workers.
ChiIdren's Mental Clinic Asked.
Regarding public welfare services
for children, the report recommends
establishment of well equipped
mental hygiene clinic" to serve Alex
andria and Arlington and Fairfax
Counties and to be financed jointly
by the three communities.
"The services available for chill
dren presenting special mental,
physical and social handicaps are
inadequate" the report declares.
There are no facilities for the con-
valescent or chronically-ill child,
and those for the feeble-minded and
epileptic are not sufficient. No group
care is available in the metropolitan
area for presychotic, psychotic and
other types of children in need OF
such special care"
Also recommended to be put into
operation as soon as possible Is a
plan whereby Alexandria, Arlington
and Fairfax would share an adop-
ton worker Appointment Of case
supervisor with some training and
experience in the field Of child well
fare should be made as soon as pos
sible, the report declares. Addition
of q child welfare worker sis desir-
able" also, according to the report.
Day Care Study Sought.
An extended use of carefully Sc
lected'' foster homes for the care
of socially and physically handi-
capped children should be explored
because there are no specialized
group care facilities available for
them," the report states
On the subject of the community
day care facilities, the report recon-
mends that the Council of Social
Agencies initiate further study ito
determine their adequacy in terms
of mothers who need to work, and
for the service of other families
where the need for such care exists"
The report recommends co-ordi-
nation between public and private
agencies, $50 that all service pro-
grams will be made available to the
children in need of them"
Leadership is needed in Clarity
ing the major functions of the agen-
cies and in fostering division OF re-
sponsibility to insure coverage of all
the needs" the report declares. "The
Council of Social Agencies should
assume a major role in this"
Residence Restrictions Hit.
Regarding elimination of resi-
dence restrictions, the report de-
clares that applicants requiring as
sistance should be helped without
regard to the length of their resi-
dence. Suitable social planning
should be made for nonresidents to
determine whether the best care
can be given in Alexandria or at
their place of residence"
Public assistance should be avail
able to persons having emergency
temporary or incidental need, the
report declares.
The District Home at Manassas,
which serves the northern section
of Virginia. including Alexandria,
should be enlarged and an adequate
medical care program instituted, the
report recommends.