THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601190022
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Associate editor Glenn Allen Scott's column (Perspectives, Jan. 7) on welfare reform in Virginia was exactly on the mark.
Social workers and human-service professionals in the community have long recognized that the laudatory goal of helping families leave welfare is a labor-intensive task that requires a pool of resources to support work entry.
When welfare-reform mandates are implemented in South Hampton Roads and other large urban cities, those who see this simply as an up-and-out effort will be forced to reevaluate.
Governor Allen chose to begin implementation of welfare reform in a small number of areas that had strong economics and much smaller problems. He also chose to phase in the urban areas long after he leaves office and the challenge becomes, by definition, someone else's problem.
I strongly encourage your paper to continue to follow in depth the whole area of welfare reform in a longitudinal manner. You are certainly providing an important service by your coverage.
MARILYN COPELAND
Norfolk, Jan. 9, 1996 by CNB