State agency needs a name change

By Bob Mensch

and Jay Costa

The term welfare is defined as the general well-being of an individual or group of individuals. However, when used in association with government services, the term has, unfortunately, developed a negative connotation.

One state agency that suffers from the use of the term is the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

This name isn't even an accurate description of what the agency does. Ninety-five percent of the department's funding is focused on health and human-services programs, not traditional welfare programs. Amazingly, Pennsylvania is only one of two states in the nation that still uses the term welfare in the name of one of its agencies.

Why is this important?

Recently, five former Pennsylvania governors - Ed Rendell, Mark Schweiker, Tom Ridge, Dick Thornburgh, and, just before he passed away, George Leader - joined together to call on the Pennsylvania legislature to change the name of this department. As they put it, "Words matter. Names matter. Stigma lasts." The former chief executives of the commonwealth, two Democrats and three Republicans, noted that the name would make sense if it accurately described the functions of the agency. But that is not the case.

This is not a partisan issue. This is about doing what is right. We do not want citizens to delay reaching out to a government agency for assistance because they are concerned about the perception that they might be receiving "welfare" benefits.

This stigma not only hurts the individuals involved; it costs the state money.

We represent a number of older Pennsylvanians who worked for years in low-wage jobs. Some have outlived their spouses or family members. Now many of them need help. For instance, some qualify for in-home care, which enables them to stay in their own homes and avoid going into a costly nursing facility. In order to receive these services they are entitled to, they must fill out a Department of Public Welfare application. Many refuse in order to avoid going on the "public dole." As a result, they cost the public more money when they are forced to go into nursing homes.

The stigma also applies to families caring for loved ones with intellectual disabilities or mental illness. It applies to families seeking assistance with the process of adopting a child, and families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with developmental delays who are receiving early-intervention services. It also includes women recovering from domestic abuse, receiving breast-cancer screenings, or undergoing the process of healing from rape.

All of these scenarios involve families and individuals who receive services from our Department of Public Welfare.

Because we believe that names matter, that certain words carry an unnecessary stigma, we have joined together in a bipartisan effort to introduce legislation, Senate Bill 840, to change the agency's name to one that more accurately reflects its duties: the Department of Human Services.

We believe that is a sound investment that will allow Pennsylvania seniors, families, and other citizens to legitimately seek assistance without living unnecessarily with the stigma of being on "welfare."