A mother of four from Laurel, Delaware.

Job Training
My job training was not real good and I was supposed to take whatever job came first. I didn’t like the training, but it did help me get some jobs.

Have you received job training recently? Yes

Employment
I had problems with transportation. Also, when I or my children got sick, jobs didn’t like that. Work is hard to find where I live. The pay is low and employers do not help a small family.

Have you gotten a new job, increased work hours or earnings in the recent past? Yes

Child Care
Child care on the most part is good but sometimes it impacts on getting to work or looking for work. There should be more child care options, like having one at my apartment complex. Also a lot of child care is geared at 8-4 or 9-5 jobs, but about half the jobs are very-early-starting jobs or end late or on weekends. Then child care becomes a nightmare. This is especially where central locations of child care should be available.

Have you received child care assistance to help you get to work? Yes

Transportation
Transportation is a continuing problem. Buses are infrequent and don’t go where I need to go. Public transportation, taxis [and] buses are few and far between and do not work for getting to and from work because most work is too early or too late for buses or relatives or friends to transport. If I had help to buy a car with a gove[rnment] loan that I could pay back little by little, [that] would be good. Car insurance is way too high for low income people, so I am stuck.

Do you have adequate transportation to get to and from work? No

Health
Doctors’ excuses don’t work for jobs or state welfare program. People don’t care when you are sick. Children’s bad health affects my job ability to be there.

Do you and your family have a regular doctor who normally provides care? Yes

Health Care
Health care is good when you can get an appointment if it is near the time you are sick. Then transportation can be a problem.

Do you now have health insurance of any kind (including Medicaid)? Yes

Additional Information
[No Response]

Last Question
I expect things for myself and my family to get better.

Demographics
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Laurel, DE
Age: 20s
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: 11
Race: African American
Number of own children at home: 4
Household size (enter appropriate numbers): 4 Children; 1 Adult
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in the household? No
Author’s gross cash earnings for previous calendar month: $350
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? No
Manner: Transcribed by collector