The Daily Alaska Empire

BOARD POINTS OUT WELFARE LAWS NEED VARIOUS CHANGES

Problems confronting the Department of Public Welfare due to changing economic conditions in Alaska, plus the need for changing of laws pertaining to departmental work, were discussed today by the semi-annual conference of the public welfare board. The board consists of a member from each division, presided over by Gov. Ernest Gruening, chairman, and Henry A. Harmon, department director. Harmon believed the board would complete its three-day meet this afternoon, with a conference of the planning board for the Commission on Children and Youth, a new division set up recently in the department. Questionnaires have been sent to all Alaskan communities asking information on needs of children in each. After compilation, findings will be presented at a planned White House conference of the Commission on December 3. The new Commission, while apart from the aid to dependent children and juvenile code programs, operates on a basis similar to these aids, two of the five major programs in the department's care.

Aided 41 Institutions

A highly important program of participation in the distribution of donated foods was explained to board members by Harmon. He said the department had aided 41 schools and other institutions in this manner. Foods given by private agencies and individuals are apportioned by the department as needs warrant, the work growing encouragingly, he said. Long discussion took place on looking to better working relationships with other agencies, such as the Department of Health, whose work crosses that of the Department of Public Welfare in some matters. Better understanding by the public of services available was pointed out as needed, and the need for revision of several laws concerning welfare was brought out.

Funds Affected

Harmon, after reviewing departmental activities to the board since their last meeting late in 1949, discussed the need of strict efficiency in all activities, due to inadequate funds in his department's charge. "Funds available for the remainder of the biennium," he said, "are such that all programs must be operated as efficiently as possible. We must look beyond all cases presented to us to see if there are more needy ones."

This situation is due to the tremendous rise in the case load now being carried, the increase being unexpected when money was last appropriated, he explained. Programs under departmental responsibility are: aid to dependent children, juvenile code, old age assistance, general relief, and child welfare service. Harmon reviewed happenings which affected the department's operation since its last meeting, such as the increase in hospital rates for needy patients; continuation of the restricted medical assistance policy; the $30 limit on general relief; re-establishment of the Nome office, and child welfare service progress in Fairbanks. Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, head of the Department of Health, appeared before the board to explain legislation pending in Congress on welfare and health assistance, and Don C. Foster, area director of the Alaska Native Service, appeared to discuss joint welfare problems concerning his service and the welfare board.