PA Welfare Department change

Posted 8/21/12

HARRISBERG, PA — Advocates and others associated with human services have been pushing for years to have the name of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) changed. They said the name …

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PA Welfare Department change

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HARRISBERG, PA — Advocates and others associated with human services have been pushing for years to have the name of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) changed. They said the name has a stigma associated with it.

On November 24, the advocates got their wish as DPW Secretary Bev Mackereth presided over the unveiling of a new name and logo for the department, which is now called the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Supporters say the new name provides a more accurate reflection of the mission of the department, which includes arranging foster care and adoptions, providing aid for disabled residents and care for the elderly.

Pennsylvania is one of the last states in the country to drop the word welfare from the state department that provides social services, and none of the counties, which are responsible for delivering aid, has a department with welfare in the title. The aid the counties receive from the state comes in the form of “social service block grants.”

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