The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-01-12

= u D. p u .
This is the 9Th of series ex-
planning public welfare in North
Carolina)
During the past several weeks
we have discussed in this column
the aid to dependent children pro-
gram of public welfare in North
Carolina. Aid to dependent children
is a money payment for needy
dependent children who have been
deprived of parental care and sup
port because of the death, ply
steal or mental incapacity or con-
tinued absence from the home of
one or both parents, whether nat
ural, step or adaptive.
We have pointed out. by brief re-
sumes of actual case histories from
the public welfare files, that such
assistance has strengthened fam
lily life and has helped to make in
dividuals self-sufficient. Such as
sistance is terminated when a
child reaches the age of eighteen.
What happens then? Are these
children really benefited by the as
sistance they have received?
Lets examine the records of a
small county in the western part
of the State. Out of 33 boys and
girls who received such financial
assistance and who were graduated
entered the Playmakers Theater in
Chapel Hill; two boys participated
in the county basketball tourna-
ment; one was a member of the
student council; a girl was one
of the States champion spoilers;
one boy received honors in ath-
letics, dramatics, debating and glee
club activities; a girl participated
in these same activities as well as
Al club work and literary clubs;
one girl participated in glee, club,
business club, home economics and
dramatics activities; one, girl was
a senior superlative and also was
active in school extra-curricular
programs: one boy held office in
his class and was active in All
club work, the Bible club, and
commercial club; another boy was
voted the best sport and most de-
pendable member of his class, and
two girls took leadership roles in
the science club, library club, school
newspaper, All club and dramatics
activities.
Four of these young people felt
that they were ready to "try their
wings" and obtained jobs upon
graduation. They are now self
supporting and are also contribut-
ing to the maintenance Of their
families. Four others felt the need
Of higher education and showed
ambition and initiative in making
their plans for college. They are
now in institutions of higher learn
ing in North Carolina. Two of the
boys obtained athletic scholarships,
and the other obtained a work
scholarship.
The county department of public
welfare in each case set specific
detectives to be worked toward in
these families. While it is impos-
sihle to estimate what really would
have happened in each of these
families without aid to dependent
children assistance, we do know
that many children would have
been undernournished, ill, and pos
sibly physically handicapped. There
would undoubtedly have been an
increase in truancy and related
problems. There is factual evidence
that the aid to dependent children
grants, even though they are sell
dom adequate, have provided means
for most of these children to as
sumo a normal place in family
unit, to have status and protection
in the community, and to remain
interested in school, scouting, and
other activities equipping them for
either college or self-supporting
work in the future.