Evening star., 1957-11-21
| handicapped Face
Loss Of D. c. Relief
Must Accept
Medical Aid
Or Be Dropped

SlSCance rolls must aVau them.
selves of corrective medical
treatment and take rehabilita-
ton training to flt them to.
wards being self-supporting or
be dropped from the rolls.
This was decided yesterday
when the Public Welfare Ad-
visory Council, meeting at 499
Pennsylvania avenue NV.
adopted q new regulation for
the Department of Public Well
fare.
But those with genuine re-
ligious scruples who rely only
on prayer or spiritual means
can escape the penalty.
"An individual who has an
impairment which is considered
to be amenable to some gen.
orally accepted and generally
available therapeutic measure,
who refuses to avail himself
Of such treatment. shall be
found ineligible for assistance"
said the policy adopted by the
council.
THE term medical treat
ment' as used in this section
does not include operation.
Retaining Included
"An individual who has been
found to have capacity for re-
training and who refuses to
avail himself of this opportu-
nifty, shall be found ineligible
for assistance.
"The decision to deny or dis
continue assistance because the
client refuses treatment or vo-
cational training, must be safe
guarded by careful study Of the
individual. his disability and
personality, and the treatment
or training that is available and
advisable.
"The decision to deny or dis.
continue assistance will be
made by a committee composed
of a medical team. the social
worker, the District supervisor
and the superintendent or as
sistant superintendent"
A footnote says that any in.
dividual who is a member or
adherent of any recognized
church or religious sect which
teaches its members or adj
herents to rely solely, in the
treatment and cure of any
physical or mental impairment.
upon prayer or spiritual means
through the application and
use of the tenets or teachings
Of such church or sect, and
who, solely because of his ad-
herence to the teachings or
tenents of the church or sect,
refuses to accept medical
tre a m e nj t or rehabilitation
services, shall not be found in
eligible for assistance solely on
the basis of such refusal"
1879 on Roles
There are now 1879 persons.
including children, now on the
public assistance rolls. But only
a small percentage would be
eligible for rehabilitation. off,
cials said.
Public Welfare Director
Gerald M. Shea told the coun-
Gil the time is ripe for con-
sideration of hostels for boys
and girls under the depart
ment's care. These hostels-
one for boys and one for girls
would serve as a midway
point between institutional care
and working on their own in
the community, he explained.
Mr.. Shea said the hostels are
imperative, owing to crowded
conditions at the institutions.
He said the boys and girls-be-
tween l6 and 10 years of age
might work during the day and
live in the hostels under super
vision.
DR.. ]. Ross Veal, a council
member, suggested that the
staff gather information on
how hostels operate in other
cities and lay it before the
council at its January is meet
ing.
Mr.. Shea also advised the
council that, during the first
quarter Of this fiscal year. $64,-
506 has been collected for pub
lie assistance, children and
other persons under the de-
partment's Jurisdiction. This
contrasted with only $49,7l0
for the corresponding period
last year. 1t was a $l4, 1876 in
crease and is due to reorganiza-
tion Of one section of the
public assistance division. Mr..
Shea said.
Average Grant Higher
Mr.. Shea told the council
the average grant per family
for the District is $108.e0
monthly compared to the ma
tionwide average OF $89.79. But
he pointed out the average
number Of persons per family
receiving public aid in the Dis
trict is 3.3 persons. contrasted
with 2.75 for the Nation. And
living costs in the National
Capital are near the top, he
said.
"Only AZ per cent OF the Dis
trict aid TO dependent children
families also receive Old Age
and Survivors Insurance pay
ments, compared with SO per
cent Of the national average"
Mr.. Shea advised the council.
THE fact that 34.7 per cent
Of the mothers Of the District
aid to dependent children
families are not married TO the
fathers. compared with 22.7 per
cent for the national average
NAV pxnlain thie efnca oiff nf-