A 19-year-old Certified Nursing Assistant supporting one child in Raleigh, NC

Job Training
I did not receive any job training, but the social services office said that they would have helped me get a certification if I would not have had it already. Social services also said they could give me some leads for jobs. I filled out an application with them, but the counselor never got back to me after that. It didn’t matter because I had my own leads to find a job. I worked with Alzheimer’s patients in another state and already had my CNA.

Have you received job training recently? No

Employment
I work at a state mental hospital. I started with this job back in December and got it without the help of social services. I filled out the application, interviewed, and was told I had the job within a week. I am doing really well in my job and they are begging me to stay. Since a lot of other employees are leaving right now, I have a chance for advancement and they will help with school if I want to go back. I work between 36-40 hours per week and make $850 per month. The hours I work fit into my child’s daycare provider well.

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

Child Care
Social services helps me with child care expenses. They gave me a list of child care providers to choose from and I’m glad I [have] a lot of options. The names of the daycares were not just for low income families either. They are for families from all different income levels. If social services had not provided this service to me, I would not be able to work because daycare is too expensive. The cost for child care at the center I chose is around $725- $750 a month. I only have to pay $94. Also, the daycare provider I chose is convenient to home. I only drive five minutes to get there, if even that. Getting started was a pain. I had to wait long periods of time, there was a ton of paperwork, etc., but now it’s not bad. I just have to fill out a small amount of paperwork every couple months so they can see if my income has changed.

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

Transportation
I have my own car that a member of my family bought for me to use, so I don’t need assistance from social services. I trust that help would be offered to me if I needed it though. I’m really lucky. I only spend about a half hour per day in the car going to work and back, including the time it takes to pick my child up from daycare.

Do you have adequate transportation to get to and from work? Yes

Health
My health is great. I don’t have any problems. I go to the clinic if I need to go to the doctor. My child’s health is good too, except that because he is in a daycare, he gets sick from the other kids. Then I have to take time off from work to take him to the doctor, but I have great benefits for personal time, so they work with me on that. He goes to a doctor that I chose from the list provided to me by social services.

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

Health Care
Social services provided me with a list of doctors that I got to choose from for my son’s health care. They [are] good quality doctors. They weren’t for just low income families. He has a primary doctor, but if that doctor is unavailable and I need to take him in, he is able to see another doctor in the clinic. If I get sick or need to go to the doctor, I just go to the health clinic. The job I have offers health care, but it’s too expensive. With Medicaid, I don’t have to pay anything. If social services had not provided Medicaid for my both my son and me, I would not be able to afford to get health insurance. I have been told that when I turn twenty-one, I will have to pay some of the expenses.

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

Additional information
I feel like I have really had to fight to receive any help from social services. They should have case workers to see each person and talk to them individually to see what they need help with so that person doesn’t have to call so many places. I also think that because I am white they think I don’t need help as much as someone else, so I have to ask about everything instead of them just offering the information. There should be more Section 8 housing for people too. Also, I can’t work full-time if I decide to go to school, and would need help to do this so I can get a better paying job.

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

Demographics:
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Raleigh, NC
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: GED and certificate for CNA
Race: Caucasian
Number of own children at home: 1
Household size: 1 Child; 1 Adult
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in the household? Does not apply
Author’s gross cash earnings for previous calendar month: ­­­­­­­­­­$850.00
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? Yes
Manner: Transcribed by collector