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HISTORY & ORIGIN:
CATAWBA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES |
The State Welfare System began in North Carolina with the writing of a new State Constitution in 1668. At that time, the representatives of the people called for a Board of Public Charities to "supervise charitable, penal and correctional institutions and to look after the general welfare of the poor, the unfortunate, and the orphan."
In 1776, a doctrine of separation of church and state brought about a change which shifted the responsibility of care for the poor and disabled to the government. In 1868, the North Carolina Constitution stated that "beneficent provisions for the poor, the unfortunate, and orphaned are one of the first duties of a civilized and Christian state." Based upon this statement, the Board of Public Charities was created by the General Assembly to supervise charitable institutions in the state. In 1907, further legislation by the General Assembly created the Stonewall Jackson Training School for incorrigible children, and also required that children who were blind and deaf attend school.
In 1912, the Inter-Church Association was established with 153 members of various churches. In 1915, the name, Inter-Church Association, was changed to the Social Welfare League.
In 1917, the General Assembly provided that each county should employ at least one part-time worker. The larger counties were required to employ a person full-time. The North Carolina General Assembly created state and county welfare departments. At that time, the Social Welfare League became the Greensboro Board of Welfare. By law, a broad program of social service was set up, to be carried out on a county basis under state supervision.
A search of old records reveals the fact that, prior to 1919, there was only the "pauper list." This list was handled directly by the County Commissioners, with amounts of assistance varying from $1.50 to $2 monthly.
In July, 1919, according to the records, Catawba County Commissioners decided to hire a full-time Superintendent of Public Welfare "since the Legislature had ordered it." The records do not show, however, when a full-time superintendent was actually hired. In March, 1921, the commissioners ordered Mr. Charles E. Hefner, Superintendent of Public Welfare, to check over the pension list and add to or take off, as the case might be, so we assume that he had not held that position very long and was our first Superintendent of Public Welfare.
In 1923, an appropriation by the North Carolina General Assembly in the "Mothers Aid" law was used by local boards to aid poor families. The program continued until the early 1930's. Then, the economic depression brought a great increase in the need for financial assistance. In 1935, the Social Security Act provided federal money to be used with state and local funds in welfare programs. Title IV establishes the federal-state program Aid to Dependent Children authorizing annual appropriations for federal share of state-run programs for orphaned or otherwise dependent children. The Board of Commissioners authorized levying a tax to support the welfare programs in the county, at which time the separate High Point Welfare Board was dissolved and the Board of Welfare became county wide. In 1936, Child Welfare Services began in Guilford County. In 1937, North Carolina adopted legislation to meet the requirements of the Social Security Act, thus making the state eligible for federal assistance.
North Carolina began administering the program through county agencies in each of its 100 counties. The Division of Public Assistance was created in North Carolina to administer financial assistance programs created by the Federal Social Security Act.
The Housing Act of 1937 created local public housing authorities and provided federal funding to build locally-owned, non-subsidized public housing. In 1938, a food stamp plan to dispose of agricultural commodities began locally in Rochester, New York. In 1946, the National School Lunch Act authorized federally subsidized school hot lunches. In 1949, Homemaker Services began in the county. The Housing Act of 1949 shifted emphasis on public housing to benefit low-income families. In 1950, The Social Security Act was amended to establish the program of Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled and broaden AFDC to include the relative with whom the child lives. In 1951, a program for Aid to Permanently and Totally Disabled began. In 1961, Guilford County began a Surplus Food Commodity Program. Housing amendments authorized rent subsidies for low-income families. In 1962, the Day Care for Children and Staff Development Training programs began. The Social Security Act was amended, extending child welfare services to all jurisdictions and permitting states to coordinate services with AFDC. Federal share increased to 75 per cent of the cost of state-run programs. In 1964, the Food Stamp Act established national nutrition programs for low-income households. The Economic Opportunity Act ("war on poverty") established the Office of Economic Opportunity, VISTA, Job Corps, Upward Bound, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Operation Head Start, and comprehensive community action programs. In 1965, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Foster Care Program began.
The Social Security Act was amended to establish Medicaid (Title XIX). The Medicaid programs were federally-funded state-administered programs providing medical care for low-income persons. Title XVIII, Medicare, and health insurance for the aged and disabled were established. In 1967, the Social Security Act was amended to authorize the Work Incentive (WIN) program to assist AFDC recipients gain employment.
In 1969, the name of the program was changed by the North Carolina General Assembly from Department of Public Welfare to Department of Social Services. At this time, many welfare laws were rewritten to simplify and clarify the laws. A pilot program to separate the functions of eligibility determination from services programs was tested in Guilford County. In 1970, separation of Services and Income Maintenance programs became mandatory in North Carolina.
In 1971, Protective Services for Children began. In 1972, the General Assembly, due to actions initiated in Guilford County, passed the Adult Protective Services law. The Social Security Act was amended to combine programs for the needy aged, blind, and disabled into Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with federal funding and administration. Title VII of the Older Americans Act authorized nutrition programs for the elderly. In 1973, the State Department of Social Services was changed to a division and was placed under the State Department of Human Resources. The local Social Services Director became an Agent of the Secretary of Human Resources. In 1974, the Food Stamp Program began and the Surplus Food Commodities was suspended. In 1975, Title XX of the Social Security Act became effective in governing the provisions of Social Services for eligible people.
On September 8, 1975, the Board of Commissioners designated the Catawba County Department of Social Services as the Title IV-D agent for administering the Child Support Enforcement Program. The Social Security Act amendments authorized federal matching funds for child support enforcement. In 1976, the Information and Referral Program began.
In 1977, the separate functions of Staff Development, Policy and Program Development, and Quality Control merged into the Organization Development Division. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Community Services Administration, was authorized as an emergency measure to assist low-income households in paying high fuel bills. In 1980, The Crude Oil Windfall Profits Act authorized LIHEAP as a permanent program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Social Security Act was amended to provide federal assistance for foster care and adoption assistance programs in states by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. In 1981, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act established the Social Services Block Grant, amending Title XX of the Social Security Act to combine categorical grants. Federally-supported services administered by the states include home-based services, day care, protective, and emergency services for children and adults, adoption services, and other services.
In 1984, to provide health and home support services for disabled adults, the Community Alternative Program (CAP) began. The purpose of the CAP Program is to give the elderly and disabled a choice of remaining in their homes or entering nursing or rest home facilities. In 1985, the Independent Living Skills Program began. In 1987, the Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) began.
In 1988, the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act was passed. This program provided increased coverage for Medicare recipients from significant or catastrophic costs they may face as a result of severe illnesses. The efforts provided stop-gap coverage from Medicare for recipients to prevent their having to expend their own funds after a certain level. Mr. Hefner was followed by Superintendents Mrs. Stella Price, Miss Margaret Briatz, Miss Victoria Bell, Miss Frances Lentz, and Miss Joseline Harding. Villard Blevins was Director from July 1, 1958 until June 30, 1978. Bobby K. Boyd served as Director from August 1, 1978 until October 31, 2008. The present Director is John K. Eller who began serving on November 1, 2008.
In some counties, the Superintendent of Schools was also the Superintendent of Public Welfare, but this was never true in Catawba County. At least we have not been able to find any record to that effect.
Catawba County's Department of Social Services is governed by a five member board, each serving 3 year terms. Two members of this board are appointed by the Board of Commissioners, and two by the State Social Service Commission. The fifth member is then chosen by the four appointed members. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached on the fifth board member, the resident Superior Court judge in the county appoints the member. The board must meet at least once per month.
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