Show Raising Children for Profit Illegitimacy er and ond Utah Wah Public k Welfare e continued from last week Most unwed mothers do not need public assistance Most 1 do donot donot not seek seck aid either financial or professional counseling es Cs But for the minority who do the State Stale Division of Welfare has bas a serious responsibility If the responsibility is shirked the problem doesn't disappear it becomes greater An unwed mother is a lonely unhappy person She is usually condemned by the community for her pregnancy Often she has no one to turn to for help I although she greatly needs help and comfort The physical needs nelds of an m unwed mother are the same as those of the married mother she needs shelter food cloth log ing medical care and moral support The married woman receives these but the ried mothers mother's needs are often met only grudgingly and us- us us I partially so There is a great deal of suf fering for the mother without a I husband And there ore are those I who believe she should suffer because she has done wrong I she is bad No person however harshly he might treat the unwed moth er would believe their children should be punished for the cir of their birth They must be eared cared for on the same basis as other needy children WELFARE HELPS The Aid Md to Fa Families with De Dc pendent Children Program of the State Division of Welfare is isone one way citizens of the State of Utah have taken steps to help an unwed mother and her illegitimate child The program focuses on the welfare of the child to keep the child with the mother on the theory that a mothers mother's love is preferable to life in an institution or a sub sub- substitute home Only a few child ran ren in the Program have been born illegitimately About 13 per cent County welfare offices are usually requested to help the expectant unwed moth moth- mother er after the fact county staff work worle with the mothers mother's late needs and do what they can canto canto to prevent further pregnancies cies The purpose of the Pro Pro- Program gram is to help care for needy children in their own homes who are arc deprived of oC the support of a parent because of death divorce desertion separation or or because the family bread winner is unemployed phy physically handicapped or in an in such as a hospital or ora ora a prison It is of particular importance that a mother provide a suit able and wholesome home for her childr children n Welfare casework ers feel strongly about this They are arc aware of the emotion emotion- emotional nl al damage that can result when a ch child ld is torn from his family and a caseworker will do every thing possible to help a mother correct a child neglect problem When a neglect situation de mands it a family may be reo re- referred to the Juvenile Court and there Is the possibility that the court will order a foster care placement for the children BOOZE PARTIES Its It's In this category that the critics of have a heyday They cite the cases of mothers entertaining men and throwing booze parties when the check comes in Welfare caseworkers are the first to admit that families of this nature are arc not unknown But they deny that it is a com com- common mon practice The few cases said Mr Ir Toone are arc what get et public attention and this builds up a false of nil all mothers The president of a bank may abscond with all the banks bank's money but that doesn't mean we should think all bank presidents are crooks laws require case workers to make regular home visits and other contacts with their client families They must determine Individual social pro pro- problems problems and move professionally to correct them Caseworkers also work with the schools to see whether a child is attending regularly and inquire about his school performance They find out whether he is happy ap ap- ap I pears well fed and Is properly clothed Furthermore people being what thy they are the neglectful mol mother her finds it difficult to hide her neglect should she desire to todo todo do so Neighbors or relatives call the Welfare Office local of hear of the problems and if they are arc true neighbors relatives and officials demand that some action be taken to I correct the condition In providing assistance for forthe forthe the unwed mother the case case- caseworkers workers stress concern for the welfare of the children and rest res poet for the dignity of oC the It is by maintaining a mothers mother's dignity and feeling of worth as a person that she can best be helped to help herself Financial assistance is provided provid- provid provided ed so that the mother and child can meet the necessary expenses es of living livin Medical costs are arc met and If the mother is in inn n need ed of psychiatric help she is referred to a clinic Although financial aid is the most pub part of the Pro Pro- Program Program gram casework and other social services Is the corner corner- cornerstone cornerstone stone Some girls come to us In a pretty desperate condition said Mr Ir Toone Their famil famil- families les ies and friends completely re- re reject reject them and they just dont don't have anywhere to turn to but the Welfare Division For some it is a last resource since they have no other place to go for help Mr Toone discussed some of the practical things done clone by caseworkers such as helping the I parents and their pregnant daughter to accept the reality of their situation with as little Incrimination and self blame as possible helping the mother plan plan for the birth of her child arranging for medical care etc The mother may want to togo togo go to a family care type of home pending the childs child's birth She may wish to release her child for adoption and the case casl worker will h lp her to reach a decision and follow the nee necessary essary procedure The mother may need guld- guld guidance ance on how to file legal action against her childs child's alleged father MOTHERS NOT CONDEMNED While caseworkers dont don't condone lice Hie act that caused a girls girl's illegitimate pregnancy pr we accept the unwed mother as asa asa a very hurt troubled unhappy and anxious girl who needs her family jeer her friends and her community more than at my any anytime time in her past life said Mr Ir Toone The last thing she needs at this point is to be personally judged and con cond for the difficulty she finds herself in The proper de de- de development of her child will de de- de depend pend in a large measure upon the degree of her stability ns as a human being The Program provides for counseling when a mother is faced with dally daily problems too big for her to cope with With the help of a skilled caseworker she may be saved from going Into worse situations and per hops haps s from becoming one of the repeater unwed mothers Families dont don't stay on the Program long said Mr 11 Toone The average case in Utah Is open about 20 months For the most part welfare fam fam- fam families find the means of self self- support themselves and are glad to be sufficient self The point to remember said Mr Toone Is that people are not happy on welfare They take pride in being self Most people want to work Contrary to popular be lief only about 4 per cent of all welfare cases in Utah re re- re represent present second or third generation genera genera- generation tion welfare recipients and the per cent of Utah's population on welfare roles is at one of its lowest points Ip 1 1940 over 9 per percent percent cent of the population was on onI I welfare In 1950 it had dropped to 42 per cent and in 1966 the ratio stood at 36 per cent During the fiscal year ear the utah Division of Wel Wel- Wel Welfare fare opened cases and closed cases The Agencies that help the unwed mother said Mr Toone haven't caused the problem they've inherited it it The Aid to Families With Dependent Children Program doesn't in in- in increase crease illegitimacy it only tries to provide for the fatherless children who are the result of something wrong in society The problem is the concern of the whole community only with the cooperation and aware ness of the whole community can something be done with the problem of unwed mothers |