From Foster Care of Children, U. S. Department of Health, Education

Number of positions needed June 30, 1966 (total number) to provide for an average worker caseload of 60--based on 6-30-66 total caseload of 9546 (children under care, adoptive homes, boarding homes, etc.)

STATEMENT OF DR. MAURICE HARMON, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF CHILD WELFARE, FRANKFORT, KY.

Dr. HARMON. In terms of your question, Mr. Chairman, I would be the first to say that this problem of delinquency is not limited to our large cities. Perhaps the dramatic aspects of it lead us to emphasize that it is. But it is not.

As you said earlier to the previous witness, Mr. Chairman, many of the people which we find in cities, in some of the cities, have only, if I may use the word, escaped from their problems in smaller communities.

In general, Mr. Chairman, I endorse the principal philosophy of this bill before us, though I have several serious questions, I might say, about it, in terms of its ultimate effectiveness, and in some of the problems that it might create in the field rather than smoothing them out.

One of the major problems which I present for your consideration is the fact that, again, as other bills have done in the past, it tends to circumvent the State authorities in the matter of approval and distribution of grants, and so forth.

This, in my way of looking after, I might say humbly, several years of experience, almost 30, would be a grevious error. There are many of us, for many years, ready with programs, ideas, effective ways and means of alleviating this problem. Our biggest problem is the lack of fiscal ability.

Mr. PUCINSKI. Would you refer to page 3, where it refers to the Secretary being authorized to make grants.

Also the language on page 3 about in order to urge States and localities to prepare and adopt comprehensive plans covering their respective jurisdictions based upon a thorough evaluation of the problems of delinquency, the Secretary is authorized to make grants to any State or public agency.

Do you feel the language should be stronger than that?

Dr. HARMON. I do, sir. This is only permissive. It is not adamant. I feel this is one of the problems of many. There is no single problem in any of these. One of the problems in many States, if not most

Mr. PUCINSKI. Are you recommending that all of these programs go through the State, or do you have any objection to the Commissioner entering into agreements with local public agencies if the program for which they are seeking assistance is part of the comprehensive plan developed by the State in cooperation with local govern

ments?

Dr. HARMON. Sir, I do not think the language in the bill is strong enough that it would avoid the opportunity of programs that are not coordinated to still get the attention of the granting authority.

I submit there are many experiences wherein this bill, and very rightly so, is aimed at coordination, I am suggesting, sir, that there would not be the type of coordination the bill is aimed at because of this.

Mr. PUCINSKI. I am glad you are making your point, Doctor. I can tell you right now, and I believe this is agreed to by all members of the committee, this legislation needs major surgery.

The points you are making will certainly be considered at the time that we go to marking up the bill. I am sure we would be very grateful to you if you might suggest some language that you feel would provide the corrections you are seeking in this legislation.