area. Other recommendations requiring changes in law, however, are included. A great deal has been said and written in the past few months with respect to the organizational structure of the Children's Bureau and the Bureau of Public Assistance. Strong beliefs, sincere concerns for program activities, The and special fears for personal interests are reflected in the attitudes of persons both in and out of the Department. This interferes with an objective approach to consideration of program development and improvement. determination of function must precede the pattern of organizational structure and alignment of staff to carry out the function. A recommendation refers to this subject. The 1961 temporary amendments to the Social Security Act now require administrative action for joint program development by the two Bureaus. Some of this has been done, but in foster care for children, training grants for staff personnel, increases in the Federal share for the adult categories, and aid for children of unemployed parents, problems must be solved. A close, continuing working relationship between the Children's Bureau and the Bureau of Public Assistance is imperative. this area. Recommendations are offered in Use every means to inform the public and to enlist its support for the positive values of the public assistance program while recognizing the necessity for correcting abuses in the program. Tell the public (as well as Congressional leaders and key committees) of plans for corrective actions and improvements. 3. State Administrators Invite State Administrators as a continuing committee to indicate problems, participate in program planning, and determine joint Federal-State action to improve operations. Seek the support of State Governors to implement adminis- 5. Establish as needed ad hoc committees composed of persons with special competence to offer advice and counsel on II. Administrative Actions 1. Social Security Administration Strengthen the Office of the Commissioner of Social Security to enable him to carry out his responsibility to coordinate the public welfare programs. 2. Deputy Commissioner of Social Security Designate the Deputy Commissioner of Social Security head of a permanent Task Force to develop and coordinate programs, policies and procedures between the Children's Bureau and the Cureau of Public Assistance. 3. Study Group on Organization 4. Appoint a Study Group on the mission and organization of the Review the policies, procedures and practices of the Merit System and Grant-in-Aid audits to insure maximum State administrative discretion consistent with Federal statutory require ments. 5. ADC Research 6. Use Federal appropriations for research to evaluate the accomplishments of the Aid to Dependent Children's programs against its stated purposes and objectives. Medical Care Research Use Federal appropriations for research to study medical care under public assistance, the extent to which it is meeting needs, and be in a position to help States with medical care programs, standards and quality of service. 7. Reduction of Dependency Direct that all Department statements of policy and program regulation be focused on the prevention and reduction of social and economic dependency. 8. Caseload Management Require States to establish caseload diagnosis, management, supervision and review methods. 9. Services in Problem Cases Require States to provide intensive casework services and to offer maximum preventive, protective and rehabilitative services for all family and children's cases involving proven money mismanagement, social maladjustment, illegitimacy, and behavior problems. 10. Work for Relief Permit States to establish "work for Relief" projects for all employable recipients, with statewide standards and local determination of work project necessity. 11. Training for Recipients 12. Encourage States to establish training and retraining programs for those recipients with potential for self-support and self-care. Incentives for Employment Permit States to provide incentives for children and adults to accept employment by allowing the retention of a portion of individual earnings for future identifiable needs, thus meeting legal requirements to "take into consideration all other income and resources" in determining the grant of assistance. 13. Recruitment, Training and Utilization 14. Strengthen joint Federal-State-local efforts in recruiting personnel, providing professional and in-service training, and effectively deploying and utilizing personnel. Identification of Services Develop a departmental plan which identifies costs of ser vices, e.g., homemaker services, as distinguished from overhead administrative costs, e.g., office rent. |