THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502030002
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
As a member of the Campaign for Virginians in Need, I am deeply concerned about Governor Allen's proposed welfare reforms. The changes unfairly target the most vulnerable segment of our population - the children. Ironically, the punitive measures to cap or deny aid to teen mothers and AFDC recipients punishes not them but their children.
There are other flaws in the legislative proposals. Demanding that mothers work without guaranteeing adequate counseling, transportation or day care is an invitation to failure. Currently, Virginia has not fulfilled requirements to receive full federal funding for the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, part of the Family Support Act of 1988. This program was designed to help clients achieve self-sufficiency through training and counseling. Virginia also has not met the requirements to receive full federal funding for assistance with child-care needs.
Contrary to common wisdom, AFDC mothers have lower fertility rates than the general population, and AFDC family size has significantly declined since 1969 without punitive approaches such as family caps.
According to the recent Rand study, children of single parents had academic records equal to two-parent families. For a savings of less than 1 percent, the contemplated changes in welfare laws can wreak devastating harm on our most valuable resource - the children of our state and our nation.
VIRGINIA O'KEEFE
Virginia Beach, Jan. 12, 1995 by CNB