Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-25
Cheaper, Faster
Than City Setup,
Officials Feel
BY BETTY MILES
Star Staff Writer

themselves.
Churches could become i'm
portant homes for private day
care programs if Congress gives
the city the 100000 it plans
to ask for care in the next fiS-
cal year.
Six churches already have
day care programs here. Dis
trict funds might pay for more
children of loW-income work.
ing mothers, if there is room
for them. Or funds could be
used to stimulate new centerS
in other churches by paying for
costs like heat and light.
This is the thinking Of Of
ficials concerned with welfare
as they plan the first day care
program involving government
funds since the early 1950S.
when centers set up during
World War II closed.
Commissioner John B. Dun
can, responsible for District
welfare matters, has not ex-
cluded the possibility of the
city establishing day centers in
inexpensive but adequate facil-
tiles of its own.
But taking advantage Of ex-
isting private facilities would
be less costly, and the pro-
gram could be launched quick
er, he notes.
Aged Homes Could Help
MI. Duncan believes some
homes for the aged also might
be able to convert space to day
care.
He wants to be sure pur-
chase of care from private
agencies complies with Fed
eral law so the District can
share in Federal funds should
President Kennedy's request for
money for day care be ap-
proved.
The Presidents proposal is
part of his overall program to
help relief recipients toward
independence. District officials
believe another 100000 would
be available in Federal funds.
Mr.. Duncan sees additional
day care facilities as an i'm
portant part Of training moth
ers on relief to become self
supporting. The city runs a
pioneer residential project at
1719 Thirteenth street NV,
where mothers live with their
children while learning how to
make a living. In the future,
Mr.. Duncan said, additional
mothers might come to the
center for training during the
day, while leaving their chill
dren at day care centers.
Long Hours Needed
Welfare Director Gerard M.
Shea points out that if the
city set up its own centers more
than half of the money it hopes
to get would have to go for
staff. Centers probably would
be open from 7 am. to 7 pm.
to accommodate youngsters
whose mothers went to work
early, or got home late. Even
if Government quarters were
found, money also would have
to be set aside for lunches and
snacks, and for equipment, in
Guiding cots for maps, he said.
Providing an incentive to
work for mothers who receive
aid to dependent children is a
major facet of the program,
Mr.. Shea noted. Day care might
be given free for children if a
mother earned only as much as
her ADO grant had brought in.
When her earnings rose she
might be asked to pay some
thing toward the cost of care,
he suggested.
-Four day-care centers in
private agencies here are sup
ported by the United Giyers
Fund.
ISadore Seeman, executive
director of the Health and We'll
fare Council of the National
Capital Area, UGF's sister
agency, notes there is little eX-
ira room in any of them.
Church Potential
But churches have a real DO
tential as day care centers, he
believes.
HIVES new day care commit
tee, headed by chairman Sidney
z. MenSh, will explore further
a united day care plan already
discussed by HWC officials,
n at would channel UGF
money to various parts of the
metropolitan area to set up
centers as the need arose. Cen
terS in churches could receive
money as District branches of
united program, Mr.. Seeman
believes.
He feels private centers serv-
ing children from many income
levels would provide richer ex-
periences than centers run only
for youngsters from one income
level.
I'VE want to move ahead and
set better day care for more
children" Mr.. Seeman said. To-
day, many youngsters are cas-
ually and inadequately super
vised by relative or neighbor,
ne added.
Mr.. Seeman expects HIVES
day care committee to discuss
cooperative public-private pro-
grams with Commissioner Dun
can. Mr.. Duncan said he well
comes private agencies
cooperation, noting, I'VE all
stand to gain if the community
can coordinate its services"