The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-01-05
WELFARE ANSWERS
FOR THE PEOPLE
eeRsiApETTE W. HoYlE
Stofe Welfare Public
information Officer

n
(This is the 7th of a series ex-
planning public welfare in North
Carolina)
This week we will look at case
history from the public welfare
files of North Carolina and see the
way that skilled casework services
were directed toward helping a
teenage boy. The mother received
an aid to dependent children grant,
which is a money payment for
needy dependent children who have
been deprived of parental care and
support because of the death, phys
ical or mental incapacity or con-
tinued absence from the home
of one or both parents, whether
natural, step or adaptive.
Mrs. Brown sought help from the
county department Of public well
fare with both her physical and
financial problems. The husband
had deserted her and their 14-year-
old son. Both mother and son lived
in an apartment with her aged
mother, whose only income was
small social security payment. Mrs
Brown had attempted to work and
earn livelihood for herself and
son, but due to a malignancy she
was not able to continue. Local doc
tors had recommended that she
have therapy at either Duke Hos
pital or Memorial Hospital in Chap.
el Hill, but this was impossible
without assistance.
Mrs. Browns son had become
disinterested in his school work ant
wanted to quit school. He had be-
come involved in petty thieverJ
and was brought into juvenile
court, where he was placed in the
custody of his mother under the
supervision of the public welfare
department.
An aid to dependent children
grant was approved for Mrs
Brown. Assistance with transpor'
tation and treatment at Duke were
furnished by the county depart
ment of public welfare and civic
groups. The husbands whereabout!
were traced through the Social Sc
curity office, and he was picked w
lby local law officials. He was triet
and convicted of bigamy and re
ceived a prison sentence.
Mrs. Brown lived only a shor
while after the trial. The son wa:
now left in the home with hi.
grandmother. By encouragement
from people in the community, thu
public welfare department ant
school officials, he had continued
| in school, but after the death of hi
mother a change was needed. Tht
grandmother, who loved the DO!
deeply, felt that she was not cap
able of coping with the problems
of a teenage boy. The boys pastol
was made aware of the situation
and, with the public welfare de
partment, helped in plans for th'
boy to enter a boys school in
Northern state. A local civic GROUP
secured ample clothing for him ant
provided transportation. Unfortu
nately, the boy was unhappy in hi
new environment and homesick fol
the South, his grandmother ant
friends.
After several months the count!
department of public welfare ar
ranged for him to return home
After counseling with the boy ant
the grandmother, the boy, wht
was now II years of age, ex
pressed a desire to enter some
branch of the armed services. HI
decided on the Army and during hi
tenure of service will receive vo
cational training which will be o.
great benefit to him in securing
self-supporting work in civilian
life. He has been quite successful
in his Army career and has Travelled
extensively. In appearance, he is
handsome, erect youth. He CORE
spends with regularity with hi
granddaughter and she says, 'He il
grandson to be proud Of" He at
tributes, the solution to many o.
his problems to the skilled case
work services by the county de
partment of public welfare, who
knew him from the age of IA ant
took a personal interest in his wei
fare.