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Show Welfare Problems Pointed Out means of increasing their welfare wel-fare allotments. State Welfare authorities are as alarmed as everyone else over the rising rate of illegitimacy illegiti-macy 3 percent of all live births in Utah during 19GG were illegitimate but are quick to refute the statement that public welfare programs are an encouragement of illegitimacy. 1 The public has long been aware that a certain amount of their tax dollar goes to Welfare Wel-fare recipients; but with this awareness has come very little knowledge of just how that hioney is distributed and for what purpose. Many times lack of knowledge breeds discontent discon-tent and criticism, according to M. Kimball Weaver, acting County Director of Welfare in Iron County. I One of the programs of the Welfare Dept. which receives rriuch criticism is the Aid to Families With Dependent Children Program (AFDC). Many critics complain that this program encourages illegitimacy. ille-gitimacy. "There are a lot of women who feel the world owes them a living and they fijid AFDC just the ticket" is the contention of many. 'Others believe that many wjomon actually go into the "business" of having illegitimate illegiti-mate children as a profitable "In associating welfare with illegitimacy the public's indignant in-dignant belief far exceeds its actual knowledge," says Mrs. Algie Ballif, Director of the State Division of Welfare. Mrs. Ballif cited recent surveys of the state's AFDC caseload which points out that 87 percent per-cent of all children on welfare were born legitimately. She added that of the 13 percent born illegitimately most of them were born before application appli-cation for public assistance was made or at least were conceived before application. "Actually," noted Mrs. Ballif, "the wefare division only paid for about 90 illegitimate births bir-ths during all of 19GG." This number is insignificant when compared with over 23,-000 23,-000 total live births in Utah during the year. i In answer to the criticism that illegitimate children are profitable, Mr. Weaver points out that this myth makes very little sense especially to the mother on welfare in Utah. A recipient mother with two children receives $5.43 a day. This must purchase all the family's living requirements. This amout falls far below the level considered necessary for a minimum standard of living based on various studies which have been made. For an additional child the mother receives an additional 70 cents a day and will receive re-ceive less for a fourth, fifth, or sixth child. "It is apparent tho increase in assistance money is not the motive behind having illegitimate illegit-imate children," states Mr. Weaver. Mr. Weaver believes that e-motional e-motional insecurity and instability in-stability plus inadequate home training and a lot of poor personal per-sonal judgement lie at the root of the growing rate of illegitimacy. il-legitimacy. "Out-of-wedlock births are no respector of any economic or social levels, it's a problem experienced by all income and cultural groups in our society," he said. "No city or town is completely ex-emnt ex-emnt from this problem and it should be of concern to all ! of us." |