USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1940 > Part 10
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466
$154,327.92
$123,642.18
Old Age Assistance
65
17,978.30
12,867.53
Aid to Dependent Children ..
13
9,836.83
1,900.35
Soldiers' Relief
108
42,313.73
42,313.73
State & Military Aid.
14
1,517.00
1,353.00
Totals
666
$225,973.78
$182,076.79
1934
Welfare Aid
462
$134,850.31
$101,980.57
Old Age Assistance.
87
22,101.88
14,799.14
Aid to Dependent Children ..
16
13,455.86
13,261.28
Soldiers' Relief
136
26,048.67
26,048.67
State & Military Aid.
16
1,339.00
59.00
Totals
717
$197,795.72
$156,148.66
1935
Welfare Aid
526
$144,831.73
$ 93,514.72
Old Age Assistance
110
30,139.41
18,877.31
Aid to Dependent Children ..
20
15,703.74
6,255.90
Soldiers' Relief
126
27,265.71
27,265.71
State & Military Aid.
21
1,724.00
733.50
Totals
803
$219,664.59
$146,647.14
1936
Welfare Aid
478
$125,511.02
$ 76,516.69
Old Age Assistance
213
46,929.11
19,525.03
Aid to Dependent Children ..
21
19,296.95
6,471.55
Soldiers' Relief
96
18,211.98
18,211.98
State & Military Aid.
16
2,588.00
1,304.00
Totals
824
$212,537.06
$122,029.25
No. persons aided-1777
1937
Welfare Aid
424
$107,847.12
$ 77,752.74
Old Age Assistance 335
78,006.48
24,171.81
Aid to Dependent Children ..
38
28,269.13
16,395.91
Soldiers' Relief
92
24,309.18
24,309.18
State & Military Aid.
16
2,388.00
428.50
Totals 905
$240,819.91
$143,058.14
No. Persons Aided
Welfare Aid
1551
Old Age Assistance
335
Aid to Dependent Children
150
Soldiers' Relief
92
State & Military Aid.
16
Totals
2144
144
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
1938
Welfare Aid
436
$119,337.36
$ 94,504.17
Old Age Assistance
382
98,556.93
22,378.28
Aid to Dependent Children ..
44
34,225.95
13,495.00
Soldiers' Relief
118
24,440.59
24,440.59
State & Military Aid.
17
2,700.00
784.50
Totals
997
$279,260.83
$155,602.54
No. Persons Aided
Welfare Aid
1627
Old Age Assistance
382
Aid to Dependent Children.
160
Soldiers' Relief
447
State & Military Aid
17
Totals
2633
1939
Welfare Aid
439
$122,504.38
$ 87,126.20
Old Age Assistance
453
120,714.12
23,779.49
Aid to Dependent Children ..
55
41,284.95
22,039.18
Soldiers' Relief
107
26,190.91
25,698.91
State & Military Aid
19
2,750.00
661.25
Totals
1073
$313,444.36
$159,295.03
No. Persons Aided
Welfare Aid
1561
Old Age Assistance
453
Aid to Dependent Children
188
Soldiers' Relief
383
State & Military Aid.
19
Totals
2604
Recapitulation
Year
Cases
Persons Aided
Gross Expenditures
Net Expenditures
1932
392
$122,854.21
$104,363.92
1933
666
225,973.78
182,076.79
1934
717
197,795.72
156,148.66
1935
803
219,664.59
146,647.14
1936
824
212,537.06
122,029.25
1937
905
240,819.91
143,058.14
1938
997
2633
279,260.83
155,602.54
1939
1073
2604
313,444.36
159,295.03
145
TOWN RECORDS
Supplementary Aid
The Department of Public Welfare assists certain families whose wage earner is on W. P. A. and receiving less money than he would be entitled to in direct relief. A small number of families whose wage earner is privately employed at wages below the family requirements are also assisted by the department with what is called "supple- mentary aid."
This aid is given in the form of fuel as needed, medical care, and, in certain cases, partial rent. There is no statu- tory provision for this aid, but the Board of Public Welfare feels that without it some of these families would before long be totally dependent.
Settlement
A legal settlement is a status created for the purpose of determining and designating the financial responsibility of the various cities and towns, and of the State itself, for assistance granted to needy persons. In general, a legal settlement may be acquired by a person who, after reaching the age of 21, has resided in a city or town within the Commonwealth for five consecutive years without receiving public assistance.
The establishing of settlement is extremely important because Arlington spends annually thousands of dollars on welfare recipients whose settlement is elsewhere. Arling- ton must pay the bill unless this settlement is proved. The department's settlement clerk devotes his entire time to es- tablishing the settlement of cases aided here, and checking the settlements of former Arlington citizens who are being aided by some other city or town. Other cities and towns whose citizens are being aided by Arlington are billed every three months. Accounts unpaid at the end of a year are turned over to the Town Counsel for suit. It is only by bill- ing these other cities and towns, and also the State, that the Town receives its reimbursements.
146
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The settlement laws in Massachusetts are set out in the General Laws, Chapter 116. The more important pro- visions are: (1) that residence be maintained for five con- tinuous years, as stated above; (2) that a married woman shall follow and have the settlement of her husband if he has one, and if not she shall retain the settlement, if any, which she had at the time of her marriage; (3) that legitimate children shall follow and have the settlement of their father; (4) that illegitimate children shall have the settlement of their mother; (5) that soldiers and sailors shall acquire as their place of settlement the city or town in which they resided at the time of their enlistment or their induction into the service.
Federal Surplus Commodities
Surplus commodities are distributed under local se- lection and State-Federal control to recipients of any type of public assistance (including work relief) and other needy persons designated by private agencies. These com- modities, by Federal regulation, may not be estimated in computing the budget deficit or need.
The welfare agent certifies all welfare recipients and W. P. A. workers; and the Arlington Social Service League (formerly called the Arlington Welfare Council) certifies workers in the Unemployed Department, League clients, and persons recommended by churches, charitable organi- zations, etc. Mr. Edmund L. Curtis is the supervisor in charge of the distribution of Federal surplus commodities in Arlington. His office, and the center of distribution, is on the first floor of the Robbins House. Branch offices, for the distribution of milk only, are maintained at Arlington Heights and at the Crosby School in East Arlington.
The only private agency in Arlington with the right to certify for these commodities is the Social Service League. In some towns in Massachusetts, churches as well as one or more charitable organizations may certify their own clients. This could be done in Arlington with the permission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare.
147
TOWN RECORDS
Amount of Aid: The amount of milk given is based upon the number of children in a family. One quart daily is allowed for a family with one or two children under 16, two quarts for a family with three or four children, and three quarts for a family with five or more children. Families are instructed not to curtail their milk orders on receipt of this aid. Milk is given out five days a week, with a double allow- ance on Friday. The food given varies from week to week in quantity and type. It includes such items as flour, dried fruits, vegetables, and butter. Meat is never given. Canned foods are provided only occasionally. Like milk, this food is to be considered strictly supplementary : not only may the Welfare Department not estimate its value in comput- ing food allowances, but recipients are to spend the same amounts for the same types of foods as formerly.
Clothing is issued once in two months. The articles, which include shirts, dresses, pajamas, overalls, a few sweaters, and underclothing, are made in W. P. A. sewing projects.
Mr. Curtis' records show that in 1939 there were 1114 persons certified to receive these commodities. Of this num- ber, 800 called regularly for their supplies.
Cost of Aid: A 7c bottling charge is made for each quart of Federal milk. Welfare recipients pay 5c of this, and the Town pays the other 2c; W. P. A. workers and others pay the entire 7c. No other charge is made for food, or for clothing.
Civilian Conservation Corps
We include the Civilian Conservation Corps in our dis- cussion of welfare because priority is given to applicants who are themselves receiving, or are certified for assist- ance ; or whose dependents are receiving, or are certified for assistance ; and because families on relief of C. C. C. work- ers are sent part of the wages, to be subtracted from the other allowances.
148
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
To be eligible for the C. C. C., a man must be physically fit, unemployed, unmarried, and a citizen of the United States, between the ages of 17 and 23 inclusive.
A man is ineligible if he is on probation or parole, is attending school or is on vacation from school, is a mem- ber of the National Guard, or has received a dishonorable discharge from a former C. C. C. enrollment.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare has been designated as the State Selecting Agency. There is a local selecting agent in every city or town. In Arlington, Mr. Cook is this agent. Enrollments are for six months. When this term has been satisfactorily completed, the young man is given the opportunity of re-enrolling at his camp. The maximum length of service is set at two years. There are four enrollments during the year, in January, April, July, and October. Application must be voluntary.
Each city and town is given a quota. Arlington's quota for the last quarter was 15. It is the welfare agent's duty as the selecting agent for the C. C. C. in this Town to go through his rolls every three months and select the number allowed to enlist.
Men in the C. C. C. receive maintenance and $30.00 a month. Of this sum, $8.00 is retained for personal expenses. For men with no dependents, the balance of $22.00 is placed on deposit at the camp, to be paid at the time of discharge. For the other men, the balance is sent to their dependents. The total allotment of $22.00 received by welfare recipients is treated as income, and deducted from the relief allow- ance.
Medical Aid
All recipients of direct relief-that is Old Age Assist- ance, Aid to Dependent Children, Welfare Aid, and Sol- diers' Relief-are entitled to medical care.
149
TOWN RECORDS
Town Physician: Dr. Edward W. Feeley has been Town Physician since April 1, 1933. With the tremendous rise in welfare costs in the last eight years has come a cor- responding jump in medical costs. The Town Physician in 1929 reported a total of 356 calls for the entire year. In 1938, there were 3555 calls.
The sum of $600.00 is appropriated annually for the Town Physician. This sum would not, of course, begin to compensate him for the amount of work done and the time spent on Town cases. Therefore, he is paid $.75 for a clinic visit, and $1.00 for a house call, the first $50.00 worth each month to be paid out of his appropriation, and the rest out of the welfare appropriation (charged to medical costs). At the end of the month, he submits to the Welfare Depart- ment a list of the recipients who have been treated.
The Committee is of the opinion that these fees are not excessive in view of the great amount of time and effort spent by Dr. Feeley in trying to alleviate the physical sufferings of those on relief. The large number of Old Age Assistance recipients should be borne in mind, for, as a rule, their ailments are most stubborn and frequent. In 1939, the number of persons entitled to seek Dr. Feeley's advice was 2604, that is, the entire relief load.
Clinic: The welfare clinic, which has been operated since 1934, is situated on the second floor of the Robbins House. Dr. Feeley is in attendance on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 1 o'clock until all the cases are disposed of. The clinic is open every day from 9 to 5 with a practical nurse in charge. She dispenses cer- tain medicines, cares for minor cuts and abrasions, and as- sists the doctor when he is present. She is paid $14.00 a week, which is paid from the welfare appropriation, and charged to medical costs.
Medical Supplies: Drugs and medical supplies are pur- chased by the Town Physician at wholesale prices, and kept
150
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
under lock and key at the clinic. Only drugs containing nar- cotics and those which have to be compounded are pur- chased from drug stores. All bills for prescriptions are checked by Dr. Feeley before they are paid by the depart- ment.
Dental Clinic: Dr. Joseph Christopher is in attendance at the dental clinic three mornings a week from 10 to 12. He receives for his services $10.00 a week, which is charged to medical costs. Dental plates are obtained whenever pos- sible from the Harvard and Tufts Dental Schools. Plates (upper and lower both) cost about $18.00.
Hospitalization: Whenever possible, hospital cases are sent to the Symmes Arlington Hospital. Veterans are usual- ly cared for in their own institutions. The ward rate at Symmes for welfare cases is $3.00 a day, a reduction of $1.50 from the customary charge. Surgical work is done by Drs. Stephen G. Jones and J. G. Towle, alternating month- ly, without charge.
Until June 1939, Town paid $35.00 for maternity cases, including prenatal and postnatal care and delivery. The mother was allowed to choose her own doctor (this was the only private medical care allowed to welfare recipients). In addition to this, the Town paid for ten days' hospitalization at Symmes and for delivery room charges, anaesthesia, lab- oratory fees, etc. The average maternity case cost the Town at least $85.00. At that time the Welfare Department learned that the Waltham Hospital would take maternity cases at a flat rate of $50.00 (including delivery), and be- gan to send all welfare maternity cases there.
Glasses: Glasses are obtained through the Massa- chusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at cost. Patients unable to make the necessary trips to Boston are sent to Arlington oculists who are willing to make reductions from their usual charges.
151
TOWN RECORDS
Infirmary: Arlington does not maintain an infirmary of its own. The few homeless elderly people on relief rolls are cared for at the Somerville and Malden Infirmaries, and also at the Tewksbury State Infirmary. There are 13 cases at the present time, for which the Town pays $7.00 a week ($9.00 if they are hospitalized) .
Burials: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 117, Section 18A provides as follows :
In the case of the decease of a poor and indigent per- son over the age of twelve years, the Town shall pay for his funeral and burial an amount not in excess of $100.00. For this figure the funeral director must .... remove the body if necessary, procure death certificate and burial permit, embalming and dressing of body, furnish suitable burial garment, furnish suitable casket bearing metal plate with name of deceased engraved upon it, furnish outer case of pine wood, furnish hearse for transportation of body to cemetery within distance of ten miles, furnish conveyance to cemetery for family of deceased, and procuring clergyman of the religion professed to officiate at the funeral.
Reimbursements: In unsettled Welfare Aid cases, the State reimburses the Town fully for medical aid and for funeral expense up to $100.00. Other cities and towns also reimburse Arlington for medical aid given to their settled cases residing there.
In Aid to Dependent Children and Old Age Assistance cases the Town of Arlington receives reimbursements for medical care in the same proportion that it is reimbursed for other aid given in these categories.
The Arlington Visiting Nursing Association: The Arl- ington Visiting Nursing Association has been of invaluable assistance to the Welfare Department over a long period of years. The Association receives an annual appropriation
152
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
from the Town of $1500.00 (for about 13 years before 1933, this appropriation was $1000.00). There are two reasons for mentioning this particular organization in this report: The great amount of good work done by it for those on the relief rolls, and the fact that its annual appropriation is listed among the other appropriations to Town charities.
The purpose of the Association is to provide care for the sick, instruction in nursing in the home, and education toward improving the standards of public health. Thirty- six years of service to the community has just been com- pleted. On August 1, 1939, new quarters at 5 Court Street were obtained for the office and clinic. Before that time, they were located for twenty years at 707 Massachusetts Avenue, opposite the Town Hall.
Under the Board of Directors are five employees: The Supervising Nurse, Miss Caroline A. Fandel, R. N., who has been with the organization for 21 years; three other Reg- istered Nurses, Miss Ethel M. Fisher, Miss Mary A. Heff- ernan, and Miss Agnes F. McGowan, with 18, 17, and two years of service respectively; and Miss Helene Johnson, secretary for the past 14 years.
In 1939, according to the annual report of the Associa- tion, the nurses made 4521 calls (or nearly half their total) to persons on welfare or on the verge of it. No payment other than the annual Town appropriation was made. The nurses are at all times at the call of both the Welfare Office and the Town Physician.
Other services of the Association included: 66 Well Baby Conferences, with a total attendance of 1255; 11 Pre- school Conferences, with a total attendance of 53; 44 Infan- tile Conferences, with a total attendance of 206; and 3 Tox- in Antitoxin Clinics, with a total attendance of 773.
Recommendation: The Committee is unanimous in the belief that the Arlington Visiting Nursing Association is of
153
TOWN RECORDS
the greatest value to the Town. After making a study of the situation, we are of the opinion that the Town should in- crease its annual appropriation from $1500.00 to $2000.00. We base this conclusion on the following facts :
The actual cost to the Association for a visit by one of the nurses is $.95. Last year the Town paid $.33 a visit (that is, $1,500.00 for 4521 visits). The regular charge to those who can pay is $1.00. In view of this fact and the fact that private charity, through the Community Chest, has not been able to raise the amount necessary for the Associa- tion's work, it would seem clearly the Town's duty to pay a greater share of the expenses for the benefits it receives. An annual appropriation of $2000.00 would allow about $.44 a visit, still a very low charge, but one which would enable the Association to maintain its vital work.
GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS
CONCERNING ALL FORMS OF
PUBLIC WELFARE
The Committee did not attempt to examine individual case histories, or to make individual investigations. For several reasons this would have been impractical. Conclu- sions drawn from the study of a few cases selected at ran- dom would almost certainly be misleading, and it was ob- viously impossible to investigate 1073 case histories. More- over, that would be a task for a trained social worker.
We have interpreted our duty to be a study of the methods and services of the Welfare Department. Only a report as detailed as this could present welfare in its true light, as a more or less permanent problem. As long as the many contributing factors are not realized, those who are so unfortunate as to have to turn to the public for assist-
154
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ance are bound to be considered objects of charity by those who have been less affected by the depression. As long as the work of the Welfare Department is thought of as the distribution of a dole rather than as a complex and reward- ing problem of rehabilitation, that work will be hampered. Fortunately, there are many signs that relief is coming to be considered an important part of governmental activity, and one that cannot be dealt with summarily. For example, during the past few years, our leading colleges have insti- tuted special courses in social service to men and women who will specialize later on in welfare work. While we may deplore the necessity for this, a failure to recognize the facts that indicate that a large relief load will continue would be disastrous.
It has been stated that even if there were a boom in business, the welfare rolls would be decreased by only 28%, or, in other words, that more than 70% of those on the rolls are unemployable. Since employability is to some extent de- termined by the demand for labor, these figures cannot be taken as final. However, although a prolonged and decided rise in business might refute the present estimate that half the persons now on Welfare Aid are unemployable, a glance at the present case load for Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children will show the folly of assuming that welfare problems will ever take care of themselves. Argu- ments based on the small case loads of 1929 are not valid, because of the increasing percentage of old people in the population, and because of a growing realization that the well -- being of all children is a matter of national concern. These facts are not very encouraging to the taxpayer, but they must be faced.
Aliens
We find that there are very few aliens on the Welfare Aid rolls in Arlington, and that the percentage which is being assisted of the total number of aliens is not greater than that of citizens.
155
TOWN RECORDS
Young People
Perhaps the saddest phase of this entire problem is the number of young people in their late teens and early twenties who are unable to find private employment. The C. C. C. camps take care of a group of young men between the ages of 17 and 23 each year, and the National Youth Administration activities take care of a few young men and women, but the Welfare Aid rolls are the only recourse for a considerable number.
Lack of Skilled Workers
We are all aware of the lack of skilled workers at the present time. Unfortunately, almost no vocational training is given at the Arlington High School. While, as required by law, the Town spends eight or nine thousand dollars a year sending high school graduates to the trade schools in Boston and Cambridge, we believe that it would eventually prove more economical and satisfactory to increase our own curriculum. This could be started on a small scale and built up over a period of years.
Much has been written lately on the part inadequate vocational training plays in our national unemployment problem. For those who are interested, we recommend the reports of the Educational Policies Commission of the National Education Association.
Per Capita Cost of Relief
In 1937, a questionnaire was sent to 21 towns and cities in the State whose population was comparable to Arl- ington's asking for their total and per capita welfare ex- penditures. Of the 22 places, the Town of Arlington was third lowest with a per capita cost of $6.20. Belmont (pop- ulation 24,831) was lowest with a per capita expenditure of $3.10, and Milton (population 18,147) next with a per cap- ita expenditure of $3.58. The highest cost recorded was that of Haverhill ($17.25).
156
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Results of a similar survey for 1939 are given in a table bound with this report.
Labor-Contact Man
It has been suggested to the Committee that a labor- contact man be added to the Welfare Department staff for the purpose of securing positions in private industry for welfare clients. We believe that while this may work out in some communities, it would not do so in Arlington. In the first place, there are not many industries in Arlington ; and other towns and cities make every effort to have their own citizens re-employed first.
Quite apart from the immediate savings in welfare costs and improvement in morale that would result from finding jobs for some of those persons who are now receiv- ing assistance, there are tremendous long-term savings to be considered. Even a very short period of employment en- titles a worker to benefits under the Federal Social Security program; and if a few months' work could be found for some of the welfare recipients who are nearing the age of retirement, deductions could be made from their pensions later in figuring their Old Age Assistance benefits. Although the ultimate cost would just as surely devolve upon the tax- payer, failure to benefit to the full from Federal expendi- tures amounts simply to an unwarrantable participation in the Federal program in other communities. Although the Committee is unanimous in the belief that many changes in the Federal program (particularly the W. P. A.) are ur- gent, we do not feel that this end would be furthered by a failure to share in it. These changes will be brought about only when there is a national demand for them; therefore, in considering costs, we have concerned ourselves mainly with the problem of keeping the local tax rate as low as possible.
Applications for aid in Arlington are not checked with private agencies other than the Social Service League to in- sure against a duplication of help. This situation could be
157
TOWN RECORDS
rectified, and at the same time an attempt could be made to alleviate the unemployment problem, by the creation of a Local Social Service Index, as explained in the following paragraphs.
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