Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-07
Job Help Urged
Before Parents
Lose Benefits
By BETTY JAMES
Star staff Writer

tons subcommittee, the acting
welfare director. Donald
Brewer, outlined this proposal:
/. Mothers who had day care
plans for their children and
were judged able to work
would be given three months
notice before assistance grants
were terminated. One months
notice is given now.
2. Three new workers would
be added to help mothers find
jobs. One would work at the
United States Employment
Service where mothers would
register.
Increase Estimate
Mr.. Brewer estimated that
extending the adjustment
period to three months would
increase the Aid to Families
with Dependent Children cate
CORY by an average Of so cases
a month.
The cost for one year would
be $124,3T6, of which $64,322
would be in local. money and
S60.054 in Federal money.
OF this amount sl07, $50
would be for grants and S17,O96
for salaries.
Mr.. Brewer said only S4,274
would be required in local funds
for salaries, since the program
would qualify for rs per cent
matching Federal money for
salaries because Of its special
service feature.
Senator Byrd stressed that
he wanted an estimate Of the
number of workers needed ito
really do an effective, agrees
sive and intensive job" to get
the mothers into employment.
Mr.. Brewer said the three
workers could do the job.
President Concerned
The problem Of employable
mothers was an area Of special
concern cited by President
Kennedy when he and Senator
Byrd discussed welfare before
the hearings.
On Saturday, Mr.. Brewer
outlined two plans to help
l,105 families under an extern
sion Of the Aid to Families
With Dependent Children pro-
gram to include children of
unemployed parents.
Mothers were estimated to
be the head of the household
in about TOO of the 1,lO5
families.
hi ecost of this extension
was placed at about 50 million
a year 70 rthe entire program,
including grants and staff.
Senator Byrd indicated he
would not recommend this ex-
tension to the subcommittee,
citing low unemployment
rate here as a factor.
Department Ruling
But only an administrative
ruling by the Welfare Depart
ment is required to put into
effect the program outlined
today.
Mr.. Brewer also introduced
a request for $141,678 for dav
care for children of low-inconle
working mothers.
The plan would enable some
children now living in foster
homes and institutions to re-
turn to their own homes. It
would provide care for children
OF mothers who we're unem-
ployed and looking for Jobs.
including those affected by the
three-month extension of the
relief cutoff for employable
AMI also would helm
other low-income mothers on
the basis of family need. Moth
ers would help pay for the care
The money would provide
care for 500 children and
would affect 155 mothers. Mr..
Brewer said. The average year
ly cost per child is estimated
at $500 go.
A woman with average earn
ings of $245.15 a month, with
two children, would be asked
to pay $182 per child a year
toward the cost of care. Thus
the net cost to the District is
put at $457.60 per wear per
child, Mr.. Brewer said.
Present Program
Eighty-Seven children are
being cared for now under a
limited progtram begun last
year. In all cases, the District
will purchase care from private
agencies. Space for $50 more
children will be available this
Mr.. Brewer said. The
present progra mis- limited to
mothers on assistance taking
job training.
II want to see a feasible day
care program" Senator Byrd
said. He noted that he had
urged officials last year to take
4 second look at their program
and be sure they didn't need
more money.
But the Senator added he
would like to see a cutoff date
Of one year for each case. He
asked MIR. Brewer if the pro-
gram could be operated on this
basis next year. and Mr.. Brewer
aid, Certainly. and we'll"