Children Topic of Welfare Forum

The impact of welfare reform on Ventura County children will be discussed at a public forum at Casa Pacifica on Sept. 26.

“In the county, there are 8,600 families and 17,000 children on public assistance,” said Randy Feltman, one of four representatives from the county’s Public Social Services Agency or Department of Mental Health who will speak at the forum.

“We’re talking about children who are at great risk because of poverty,” Feltman said. “We’re talking about families living on $7,000 a year. You can imagine the social problems that are linked to poverty, including child abuse, family violence, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy and lack of health insurance and proper medical care.”

The panel, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, will look at each of these issues, how they affect the county’s aid-dependent families and what steps can be taken to address their needs.

“Anything we do for welfare reform that addresses the income level of these families and improves their overall situation will have a tremendous impact on these 17,000 children,” Feltman said. “Many of these mothers aren’t working because their children have serious medical or behavioral problems and it is difficult for them to go to just any child-care facility.

“In many cases, these women have no family or other supports who could help with the children, so they’re on their own. How we can deal with these children and help them is fundamental to welfare reform.”

The public forum will be held at Casa Pacifica, 1722 Lewis Road, Camarillo, beginning at 9:30 a.m. It will be followed by a luncheon and tour of the facility for the county’s abused and neglected children.

A registration fee of $10 is required and must be received no later than Sept. 19. Make checks payable to the League of Women Voters of Ventura County and mail to 4399 Sweet Briar St., Ventura, CA 93003. For more information, call 644-4238.