Evening star., 1962-12-03
Welfare Study


ment of Public Welfare to
conduct q study to determine
what has happened to some
Of the families that have been
dropped from public assist
ance rolls is welcomed by all
Yho are concerned with the
effect Of the narrow eligibili-
ty requirements Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. These have
been called the narroweSt in
the Nation by the present d.
rector Of the Public Assist
ance Division.
1t is hoped that the study
will not be limited to the
families that were dropped as
q result Of the\ special inves-
tigation carried out last
spring but that 1t will. also
include q random sample Of
the large number Of families
that were cut off from as
sistance during the summer
and fall. The department
proposes to study 1872 fam
lilies. Actually, from July to
October, more than 900
families and 5000 children
were cut off from assistance.
The sample for the proposed
study should be based On this
large group Of families II 1t
Is to provide the community
with accurate Information.
We regret that the Depart
ment Of Public Welfare has
felt 1t necessary to issue only
one statistic at its disposal
rather than all the available
figures regarding the present
population at Junior village.
The impression left by the de-
partment's spokesman in the
story In The Star OF Novem-
Der 2s Is that only 43 children
out Of the TOO children at
Junior Village come from
families disbanded once pub
lie assistance grants were de-
MED to them. The facts are
contrary.
The number Of children
who we're placed In Junior
Village as q result Of cut-offs
Of public assistance Is much,
much greater. In fact, since
the departments figures re-
fer only TO the 1872 families
IN an old sample, one can
project the proportions onto
the much larger. actual
group Of more than 900
families that we're cut off.
Such a projection would seem
to indicate that more than
$50 children are at Junior
Village from such cutoff
families. II this is the case,
then the Junior Village crisis
is due to q very large extent
to the severe regulations of
the departments public as
sistance program.
Rather than guess at these
figures, the community is en-
titled to receive a full and
accurate report from the de-
partment.
What Is the exact number
OF children who are today In
Junior Village and who were
cut off public assistance
rolls7 The department has
that information and It has
the duty to release IL To the
community.
Only with all OF the facts
VIII the community be able
TO Judge accurately the dam
age done TO q large number
OF children through punitive
and reactionary measures,
and TO begin to make plans
TO remedy this distressing
situation.
The National Association
OF Social Workers Washing
ton Chapter has organized 4
large group OF professionals
to study the public welfare
crisis and make recommenda-
tions. We hope that through
this activity. the social work
profession will be able TO
serve the community.
We are certain that the
answer TO the problem OF an
overcrowded Junior Village
Is not more buildings. A part
OF the solution is In reuniting
families and making II pos
sible for those children who
are at Junior Village due TO
ADO cutoffs TO be returned
10 their mothers.
DR.. Daniel Thursz,
Chairman. Public Welfare
Crisis Committee, Washing
ton Metropolitan Chapter,
National Association Of
Social Workers.