Department
Of Welfare
Explained
(Editor’s Note: — Little is
known in the Second Divsiion
concerning Alaska’s Department
of Public Welfare. We have
asked Howard Lyng. who is
Serving his second four-year ,
term as a member of the Board
of Public Welfare, to detail the
functions and operation of the
Department of Public Welfare j
in the following article):
(By HOWARD LYNG)
The Territory of Alaska recog
nized early in its history as a
Territorial government, its social
and economic responribliiites for
the welfare of its people. Alaska
inaugurated the pension system
many years ago, long before most
Of our States. It also established
the Pioneers’ Home at Sitka to
Care for aged and indigent pio
neers, several decades ago.
In 1935 the Social Security
Act was adopted by the Federal
Government, and in order for
Alaska to come within its provi
sions a special session of the Leg
islature was held in 1937, at
which time new laws were enact
ed conforming to the standards
set up by the National Social Se
curity Board under the National
Act.
A Department of Public Wel
fare was established and a Board
of Public Welfare set up. he
Board consists of the Governor
and four members, one from each
Judicial Division, appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by
the Legislature. This Board ap
points the Director of the Depart
ment of Public Welfare. The
Board is the policy forming unit,
and assigns to the director all
duties in connection with the ad
ministration of the Department.
Public Welfare Programs
The Department of Public Wel
fare administers five programs of
service and assistance to residents
of the Territory.
1>. Old Age Assistance (Pen
sions); <2). General Assistance
(relief); (3.:. Child Welfare ser
vices; (4>. Mother’s Allowances;
(5) Juvenile Delinquents.
Old Age Assistance and Who
May Receive It:
Old Age Assistance is a grant
of money payable monthly by
the Department of Public Wel
fare to any aged, needy resident
of the Territory, who is a citizen
of the Uni'ed States, and who has
resided in the Territory for five
years during the nine years im
'mediately preceding the date of
application, who has attained the
age of 65 years. This applies to
all resident citizens of Alaska, in
cluding the Native peoples. The
maximum grant !s $45.00 per
month, but all grants are based
solely on the individual’s need.
The Federal Government partici
pates to the extent of 50 per cent
of all grants up to $40.00 per
monfh Thus, if the grant is
$4000. the Federal Government
contributes $20.00 and the Terri
tory, $20.00; if it is $45.00, the
Territory pays the $25.00.
General Assistance
The Federal Government does
not participate in this program
It is purely a Terri'orial affair,
all of the funds used being ap
propriated by the Legislature
from the Territorial Treasury.
It is designed to assist persons
who are unable to assist them
selves, either through physical in
capacity or by reason of tempor
ary lack of sufficient income.
About 50 percent of the activity
of this program is in the provid
ing of medical and hospitalization
care.
Child Welfare Services
This program is administered
by the Department of Public
Welfare under an approved plan
with the United States Children’s
Bureau of the Department of La
bor It is designed to establish,
extend and strengthen services to
children of the Territory. The
Division of Child Welfare Ser
vices carries on a generalized case
work activity on behalf of needy
children, and works closely with
the Territorial Health Depart
ment ,the Office of Indian Affairs,
and other agencies. This service
is available in the planning for
•are of children in their own
homes and for fos'er home or in-,
stitutional placement. It is also
available to the schools in the
Territory.
Mothers* Allowance
This program deals in assisting
mo*hers in the support of depen
dent children. In order to qualify
under this type of assistance, a
mother must be—
<11. Without means to support
such child, except by her own la
bor; (2). Unable to properly sup
port such child; <3> A fit and
proper person to have the care
and control and custody of such
child; <4>. A bonafide resident of
the Territory for at least one
year before filing application for
aid; <51. Concerned with a child
under 16 years of age (except Na
tive children, who are eligible
for provision by the Office of In
dian Affairs.
By statute, a mon’hly allowance
not to exceed $25.00 per month,
may be granted where there is
but one dependant child. Where
there is more than one such child,
a grant not to exceed $25 00 tor
the first child and the sum of
$15.00 for each additional child
may be made. ,
Juvenile Delinquency
Alaska’s 194J Legislature enact
ed in‘o law what is known as the
Juvenile code. The purpose of the
Act is to secure for each child
such care and guidance, as near
ly as possible equivalent to that
which should be given by his pa
rents.
The principle is recognized that
children under the jurisdiction of
the court, are wards of the Ter
ritory, subject to discipline and
entitled to the protection of the
Territory.
A i A. ~ r £ Z A A ▲ A ▲ i
Under the Juvenile Code, if thei
court finds that the child falls
within any of the provisions of
this Act, an order is entered—
< 1 >. Committing the child to the
Department of Public Welfare—
or where a child has one-quarter
or more Indian, Eskimo or Aleuf
blood, to the Alaska Indian Ser
vice of the Department of the In
terior.
2*. Releasing the child to the
care and custody of the parent,
guardian, or other suitable per
son, under the supervision of the
Department of Public Welfare, or
the Alaska Indian Service.
Those delinquent children com
mitted to the Department of Pub
lic Welfare are placed in foster
homes or in the care of an agency
or institution providing care for
children within or outside the
Territory. The Department of
:—^ a. xjk “a A'
Public Welfare pays all necessary
costs involved out of Territorial
funds appropriated for that pur
pose.
How to Apply for Assistance
Those who are in need of any
type of assistance administered
by the Department of Public Wel
fare should make their needs
known by communicating with
agen's of the Department located
in all communities throughout
Alaska. Competent persons are
available to assist you in apply
ing and to present your needs to
the Department.
At Ketchikan. Juneau, Anchor
age and Fairbanks are located six
full time Child Welfare Service
workers and representatives of
the Department, especially train
ed *o assist in handling social wel
fare problems. At Petersburg,
Wrangell, Sitka, "Valdez, Cordova,
*- * .
Seward, Seldovia and Nom^' there
are part-time persons representing ^
the Department.
In communities where there are
U. S. Commissioners, these offi
cials act on a fee basis as agents.
Where there are no Commis
sioners, the Poslmasters, or Office
of Indian Affairs teachers act
as guests for the Department.
Territorial Health Department
rfurses also may* be - contacted
anywhere in the Territory should
assistance be required.
Source of Funds -
Funds adminis'ered by the De
partment in carrying out the var
ious public assistance programs
come from two sources—the Ter
ritory, and the Federal Govern
ment. The 1943 Legislature ap
propria4ed more than a million
dollars for the present bienniutt,
(Con'inued on Page 20)
► .4.
IF what you did for the war effort today was an
easy thing to do, it isn't enough. We can not
hojjc to give as much as the boy who gives Ids life
,.. but we can do our utmost!
For instance, if you haven’t yet found yourself
Scheming and figuring on a way to bvy extra War
Bonds, it’s a good sign you aren’t buying enough!
When your neighbor calls on you during the 5th
War Loan to ask if you'll increase your purchases,
say "Yes’*... even if it takes a lot of scheming and
figuring afterward to pay for them.
That’s the way our men are doing their part...
In the Pacific, in Italy, in England. Ordered to at
tack, they do not first consult themselves to deter
mine whether it’s safe or convenient or comfortable.
They’re thinking of you at. home. To protect you,
they attack first..,*ad figurp out how to do k as
dsey go. • *•••"'
Uncle Sam needs your dollars to finance this war
and he needs them now! Not just the dollars you
can spare but every dollar you can earn that you
don’t absolutely nec1 for food, shelter, clothing and
die operation of the aarm.
War Bonds pavings mean more to the average
farmer or rancher than to almost anyone else. For
they form a financial reserve indispensable for the
profitable and efficient operation of his business.
War Bonds are safe, they pay a good return, they’re
easy to buy. When they mature, they mean new
machinery and equipment, new conveniences for
the bouse, money foe the children’s schooling, funds
for retirement
The next time you pick up your paper or liaten
to the radio news, have a conference with yourself.
”Am I doing as much as I can to help win this war?
Am I matching what I can do with what the boys
are dbing over there? Am I investing every pos
sible dollar in War Bonds today to make my future
and my family's future more secure?”
Most of us haven’t yet b«g*n to do our beat.
Uncle Sam needs k now! BUY MO&E than bb
forjs in die 5th War Loan!
5 REASONS FOR INCREASING I
kYOUR WAR BONO PURCHASE f
f. The tempo of this win is hitting in
highest point. Government expenditures (
for war are at the peak. MORB MONJ Y
S NBEXJHU ... NOWl ' ** "
t
2. 1» proportion to WHO has thb most
MONUY, individuals arc not buying tht ir
share of ^ar Bonds. America must cor
net this situation.
* , v *iv'«.... *
3. War Bonds ptoakfe the farmer and
rancher with the financial reserve he must
have to survive the ordinary ups and
downs of farming as a business.
4. Money will be needed urgently at a
future date to replace and repair farm
equipment, machinery, and buildings.
Wax Bonds will provide it.
5. War Bonds are the safest investment
in the world, return a good rate of
interest, are easy and convenient to buy
. . . from bank, post office, rural mail
carrier or Production Credit Association.
T
5'WAR LOAM
8act tieMrct/- BUY MORE THAN BEFORE
Alaska ^ teamship Company
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