Maternal and Child Welfare Provisions of the Social Security Act

Abstract

In any discussion of various provisions of Federal Social Security Act, especially of those parts of Act relating to maternal and welfare, two questions are frequently raised. The first, why should a program for federal-state co6peration in behalf of health and welfare of mothers and children be considered a logical part of a broad economic program dealing with such subjects as unemployment compensation and old-age insurance? The other is, what were special conditions which rendered imperative establishment of a program of federal aid to states for maternal and welfare? The general purpose of entire program, and relationship of children to this program, were indicated by President in his messages to Congress of June 8, 1934, and January 4, I935, in both of which he said: Among our objectives I place security of men, women, and children of Nation first. This placed welfare of children on a basis of equal importance with welfare of adults. The Committee on Economic Security appointed by President to make recommendations for legislation to provide safeguards against misfortunes which cannot be wholly eliminated in this man-made world of ours was even more specific in defining relationship of children to a general program of economic security for individual and his family. In its report to President Committee emphasized fact that the core of any social plan must be child and declared that Every proposition we make must adhere to this core. The report then proceeded to enumerate various parts of plan and to point out their direct or indirect bearing on welfare of child, as follows: