Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-17

'eSponS1blllty for finding a way
Michigan, is against birth con-
troll. but his Senate counterpart.
Senator Byrd, Democrat of
West Virginia. favors trying an
educational program.
Right now, welfare case work.
ers do not volunteer birth con-
troll information; neither do
they refuse to explain it when
asked by recipients.
Mr.. Shea said he had seen
evidences of an increased sense
Of community responsibility for
the needy since he Joined the
District welfare department is
years ago.
More families, including
Negro families, are adopting
children" h. noted. Govern
ment and private offices both
are hiring more colored work.
ers. An encouraging number
Of Negro men and women are
volunteering to help those of
their own race through our
services"
Mr.. Shea believes his depart
ment could lead community eff
forts to reduce the rolls of well
fare clients by these ap-
proaches:
First, his caseworkers must
be able to counsel clients, rather
than simply distribute checks
and judge eligibility standards.
Each worker now handles an
average of 181 cases simultane-
ously. One answer is more
social workers.
Another is elimination of
some Of the piles of paper work
to be processed in Federal cate
gories Of assistance. Local con-
troll over how Federal funds are
to be used might help. Legisla-
ton along these lines is being
discussed by the Kennedy ad-
miniStration. Less bookkeep-
ing and more case work coulo
be the result.
Practical Education
Second, adult education pro-
grams should be geared toward
practical problems of living. Mr.
Shea sees a Strengthening OF
the community more in offer
ings Of homemaking. carpentry
and labor Skills than in French
and ancient history.
Universitie S, particularly
Howard, could offer more So
cial work-oriented courses
Howard professors are discuss
ing establishment of a "co1e of
scholars" - faculty members
who would recruit residents in
one neighborhood after another
to come to churches near their
homes. In the churches, the
scholars" would help organize
cooperative projects toimprove
the neighborhood communities.
Third. churches could con-
duct child care centers for
mothers whose youngsters keep
them from earning a livelihood.
Mr.. Shea is investigating the
feasibility of manning such CEN
tiers with middle welfare
recipients, as suggested by Com
missioner John B. Duncan.
Fourth, the District Govern
ment could use about $50 people
to trim trees, maintain parks
and repair, clean and build mu-
nicipal facilities. Welfare re-
cipients formerly written off as
"unemployable" might be able
to work part-time. Other "em-
playable" but joblesS fathers
could use the jobs instead of
welfare to feed their families.
Training Centers
Mr.. Shea sees merit in a new
project considered by the Ford
Foundations subsidy to en-
ployerS through the Federal
Employment Service to take on
handicapped, unskilled workers.
Fifth, housing in suburban
Maryland and Virginia must
be opened to colored families,
Mr.. Shea believes. Thousands
of persons are held in over
crowded District houses by the
wise of housing restrictions in
suburbia. Both public and
private housing should be avail
able, Mr.. Shea said.
Sixth, Mr.. Shea would favor
Federal grants in general pub
lie assistance, a growing cate
CORY now funded completely by
local money. HEW officials
have been urged to propose
such legislation.
Locally, Mr.. Shea supports
a bill to standardize residence
requirements-one year-for re-
lief in each category. The
pending bill also would dis
qualify applicants for relief if
any member of their family was
found able to support them.
Seventh. Mr.. Shea has prom
Used vigorously to weed out free
leaders, should a congressionally
ordered investigation find any.
He also is cooperating in
tightening control over fund
shifts within the department.
Mr.. Shea's goal is to move
people off welfare by renewing
their spirit and creating social
opportunities. His work is
threatened today because his
tool - public assistance - is
widely suspected of decaying,
rather than renewing. the