Evening star., 1952-11-07

children in January, 1852. had re-
ceived aid continuously for as long
Jas five years, and 43 per cent had
received aid continuously for less
than two years.
The average period of aid for
Jail children receiving it since the
program started in 1896, the sur
lvey showed. was two years, three
land on-third months.
Vast Majority Born Here.
On the score Of families coming
here to get relief. the report COM
lmented:
Eight Of every nine children
receiving aid were born in the
District. While the majority OF
the mothers were themselves born
elsewhere. so apparently were an
even greater majority Of all Dis
Itrict women of child-bearing age.
There appears to be no evidence
that needy families have moved
into the District for the purpose
of getting relief"
Three-fourths Of the children
lreceiving aid are in need because
of the absence Of one or both
parents. according to the report.
Death Of q parent is the cause of
need in only II per cent Of the
cases and parents incapacity is
the cause in 13 per cent Of the
cases.
The survey noted that the ma
jority of the absent fathers do
not contribute to the support of
children receiving aid. The re-
port urged establishment of an
interdepartmental committee to
coordinate efforts to enforce the
non n-support law. This would in
lclude locating the deserting father.
Asks Group Be Named.
The Welfare Board, at its last
meeting, agreed to ask the Com
missioners to appoint an interde-
lpartmental committee. composed
of representatives from police,
United States Attorneys ofiice and
Corporation Counsel's office, in
addition to welfare ofi1cials.
\ The survey found that 5,529
children were living with their
mothers in homes from which the
fathers were absent. In II per
cent of these cases, the fathers
were separated without court de-
cree. had deserted or had never
been married to the mothers.
OF all children receiving assist
ance. it was reported, IS per cent
were Legitimate. This included
IL per cent of the white children,
and 80 per cent Of the, colored.
OF the families receiving aid to
dependent children in January,
according to the report. IL per cent
were white and 80 per cent colored.
OF the children. 615. or 9 per cent,
were white and 5.906, or 81 per
cent. were colored.
The survey compared children
receiving ADO in their own homes
with those cared for away from
home in foster homes or public or
private institutions. It was found
that two thirds Of all white chill
dren dependent upon public sup
port were cared for away from
home and only one>sixth Of the
colored children.
| Foster Home Costs Higher.
| Care in the child's own home,
the report emphasized. is not only
beneficial to the child, but to the
taxpayer. It was pointed out that
1t costs four times as much to pay
for a child in a foster home as it
does to provide aid and 1t costs
10 times as much to care for q
child in an institution.
EFT is apparent" said the re-
port, 'that Aid to Dependent
Children Is seldom considered to
be o resource by the white mother
whose family Is deprived Of the
fathers support. The alternatives
which deprive the fatherless child
LOT the mothers care during the
work day, or which break up the
child's home completely. may be
q high price to pay for the main
tenance by the mother Of her in
dependence from public support.
May 1t not be well for the fu-
ture Of her children that the Me-
gro mother is willing more often
to accept public assistance when
it is needed to permit her to give
her children full-time mothers
care?"
The report gave these reasons
why so few white mothers apply
for aid:
There are more private institu-