Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-09
Denial of Aid

We as professional social
workers feel compelled to ex-
press our concern at the
denial Of aid to dependent
children who happen to have
unemployed parents.
When the Social Security
Act was passed In 1885, it re-
Elected that stage in our ma
tional development when we
as q Nation went on record
as b believing that income
maintenance was q national
problem and responsibility.
This q action indicated once
and for all that the individ-
ual, the city and State could
no longer be e expected to
solve the problems Of income
maintenance single-handedly
The 1862 Amendments to
the Social Security Act set
forth the sound detectives Of
strengthening Of family life.
prevention Of social and fam
lily breakdown and rehabili-
tation in those cases where
bre akdown had occurred.
Such detectives are not only
In keeping with the humane
principles Of q democratic
society but represent en-
lightened economic philoso-
ply. The national economy
will thrive as more children
have access to educational
and vocational opportunities
to- fit the m for productive
citizenship in the Nation. On
the other hand, the economy
is not only currently bur-
dened by high cost of hsti-
tutional support for these
unfortunate c children, but
stores up for itself future
economic burdens Of care for
those meQuipped for self
care.
As social workers, we have
first-hand knowledge Of the
consequences Of poverty and
deprivation and are shocked
and diSmayed that the I'M
employed and underprivileged
in the District Of Columbia
are denied access to the very
programs available to those
in like circumstances in more
farsighted areas.
We note that the excuse
offered by the Chairman Of
the District Subj Committee
for the Senate Appropriations
Committee is that the Dis
trict unemployment rate is
too low to justify such a pro-
gram here. Facts do not sup
port this. OF the is States
Gas Of October) with q pro-
gram Of aid. to unemployed
parents, seven have rates
equal to or less than that of
the District which has an es-
timated rate of five to six per
cent in its city area, as dis
tinct from the Metropolitan
Area. Even greater disparities
would be evident If data were
compiled on q census tract
basis. The c hildren In the
city precincts get just as
hungry as those in the outly-
ing precincts. Their parents
are Just as a m bilious for
them as the parents In the
more privileged areas are for
their children. If this pro-
gram of Aid to Families Of
Dependent Children who are
unlucky enough to have able
bodied but unemployed par
ents is defeated, this defeat
denies the validity not only
Of the basic national concern
for family maintenance but
also the n altoona u concern
about serious problems stem
ming in large measure from
poverty. Poor school attend
ance, juvenile delinquency,
and child health are among
these problems for the treat
ment Of which important
Federal programs have been
inaugurated.
We urge that the entire
membership Of the Sc n a tie
Appropriations Committee
take q new look at the pro-
poSal to extend aid to unem-
ployed parents which was
outlined by the Director of
the Department Of Public
Welfare in the recent hear
ings. We remind them that
the children Of these families
will grow up to pay taxes,
perhaps to give military serv-
ice, and even, please God, to
vote!
Inabele b. Lindsay.
Dean, School Of Social Worl
Howard University.
Editors Note: This letter
tDas signed By IS other men,
-. "a A.. 6~I11y IL -61a..T