| Show and Public Welfare lre Editors Editor's note The following article was prepared and submitted submitted submitted sub sub- by the Sanpete County Welfare Dept It is a two-part two feature article Probably the most often repeated repeated repeated re re- story about public welfares welfare's welfares welfare's welfares welfare's wel wel- fares fare's Aid to Families With Dependent Dependent Dependent De De- pendent Children Program is that it encourages illegitimacy Welfare caseworkers hear the accusation made time and time again and the story has gained stature by being propounded in reputable publications often by reputable personalities There are a alot lot of women who feel the world owes them a livIng living living liv liv- ing and they find just the ticket say some critics Others believe that many women women women wom wom- en actually go into the business business business busi ness of having illegitimate children children children chil chil- dren as a profitable means of Increasing In- In increasing increasing in in- creasing their welfare allot allot- ments Many cant can't think of of public welfare programs without feeling most of them should be abolish abolish- ed One indignant writer to the editor of a Salt Lake City newspaper newspaper newspaper news news- paper pleads why should decent decent decent de de- cent working hard-working people be taxed to keep such uch trash It is families of this type unwed mothers with illegitimate children children children chil chil- dren who are now how receiving government nt help to the third and fourth gen generation ra ion and will continue continue continue con con- to do so so for generations to come The government should get busy and pass legislation that would prohibit such women from receiving any welfare benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits after their second illegitimate illegitimate illegitimate mate child State Welfare authorities are equally alarmed over the rising rate of illegitimacy 3 per cent of all live births in Utah during 1966 but are quick to refute the statement that public welfare welfare welfare wel wel- fare programs are an encouragement encouragement encouragement of illegitimacy In associating welfare with illegitimacy the public indignant belief far exceeds its actual knowledge says Mrs Algie Ballif Ballif Ballif Bal- Bal lif director of the State Division of Welfare Mrs Ballif cited recent recent recent re re- cent surveys of the states state's caseload which point out that 87 per cent of all children on welfare welfare welfare wel wel- fare were born legitimately Of the 13 born illegitimately The large majority or or upwards to 90 90 of these children were born before application for public public public pub pub- lic assistance was made said Mrs Ballif A large portion of the remaining 10 of the illegitimate illegitimate illegitimate l births were conceived before before before be be- fore application Actually noted noted noted no no- ted Mrs Ballif the Welfare Division only paid for about 90 illegitimate births during all of 1966 She regarded this as almost an insignificant number when compared compared compared com com- pared to the families on the Welfare Program and andover andover andover over total live births in Utah during 1966 It would be just about impossible impossible impossible sible welfare officials say to prove that the possibility of future fu- fu future future fu fu- ture financial aid influences the unwed mother at the time tune of her childs child's conception There 1 ere are of course some exceptions said Morris Bunnell Bunnell Bunnell Bun- Bun nell Director Sanpete County Its the few cases of this type which bring the thunderbolts down on the entire pro pro- gram Most welfare caseworkers who deal with unwed mothers on public assistance regard the business of illegitimate children children children chil chil- dren for more welfare money amyth a amyth amyth myth that makes little sense especially to the mother on wel wel- fare In Utah they point out a recipient mother with two chil chIl- dren receives a total assistance payment of a day This must purchase all the family's living requirements Based upon consumer price index index index in in- dex studies and studies conducted conduct conduct- ed by the US U.S. Department of Agriculture this amount falls far below the level of income considered necessary for a minimum minImum minimum min min- standard of living for three persons The must purchase rent per month food per month clothing personal personal personal per per- care utilities and household household household house house- hold supplies school needs furniture furniture furniture fur fur- recreation and all other necessities of life For an additional child the mother receives an additional per day and will receive less than this for a fourth fifth or sixth child It is apparent the increase in assistance money is not the motive motive motive mo mo- tive behind having illegitimate children states Morris Bunnell Sanpete County director Mr Bunnell believes that emotional insecurity and instability plus in inadequate inadequate inadequate in- in adequate home training an and a alot alot alot lot of poor personal judgment lie He Heat at the root of the growing rate of illegitimacy wedlock Out births are no respecter of any economic or social levels it isa is isa isa a problem experienced by all income in income income in- in come and cultural groups in our society he said Welfare authorities authorities authorities auth auth- point out that the State Welfare Program ultimately becomes becomes becomes be be- comes involved with only a small percentage of the states state's illegitimate illegitimate illegitimate mate births Mr Bunnell sees the problem as one which belongs to the whole community to all individuals individuals individuals indi indi- and families all social agencies schools churches pro pro- Most important he feels every parent should try try- to u understand q the factors that tha can lead to il il- il legitimacy Nobody of course can put his finger on or one specific specific specific cause But parents should bear in mind certain points Young people people people peo peo- are growing up in a cold- cold war world that has little ity Their unease is a reflection of world-wide world unrest Youth has never found it harder to acquire a sense of personal security Americans are radically becoming becoming becoming be be- coming a mobile people moving their families from town to town from one one end of the country to another This cuts ties with relatives relatives relatives rela rela- tives who might give moral and other supportive help as was more common in past decades And again it tends to deprive a achild achild achild child of the security that comes from steadiness Movies television and magazines magazines magazines maga maga- that emphasize sex and aggression aggression aggression ag ag- tend to stimulate young people and place lowered moral codes before diem m. m They are not taught the importance of accepting accepting accepting accept accept- ing frustrations and the long- long term rewards of developing V lo ing self- self controL STRENGTHEN STRENGTHEN PAR PARENT PARENT- T- T CHILD RELATIONSHIP One approach to the problem problem lem Mr Bunnell believes is in the parent-child parent relationship and in the return to our old standards of family ties and family feelings In line with this there is posed the problem of reaching families families famil famil- ies fes before trouble happens and working with parents who are not able to give their children security and affection The proportion proportion pro pro- proportion portion of this type of parent in ratio to population far exceeds the average persons person's estimate is Mr Bunnells Bunnell's opinion Extended parent counseling services would help he felt but would probably make only a small dent in the problem Inadequate parents are difficult difficult difficult cult to reach said Mr Bunnell only a few will go to agencies for counseling or accept another persons person's guidance His conclusion We have to start with the child We should be doing much more in schools and in our church programs to detect maladjustment which is the danger signal of a potential illegitimacy problem Both institutions institutions in institutions in- in come to know the child and his home situation on onan onan onan an intimate level leveI Detection he said is needed to prevent social ills just as it itis itis itis is with physical ills iUs just as it itis itis itis is with cancer He therefore recommended more personal and family guidance resources in and available to schools and churches more trained persons persons persons per per- sons who could pick out potential potential potential poten poten- unwed mothers and provide professional preventive and corrective corrective corrective cor cor- casework service Perhaps even before this Mr Bunnell concluded is amore a amore amore more basic need the need to discover to a much greater degree degree degree de de- gree all of the whys of the problem We need far more answers than we now have he said I |
