NJ-17
Job Training
My life has changed drastically. I had the opportunity to learn ESL (English as Second a Language). I’ve also learned to value myself very much. I have been very eager to wake up every morning and prepare myself for job training. Although, it has been very difficult on my small children because they still need to be nourished and taken care of while I’m in job training. Our schedule can be very hectic at times. But I am very happy that there is welfare reform because I know with good training and knowledge, I have hope for the future.
Have you received job training recently? Yes
Employment
I’ve worked in the year of 1991. I worked in a factory named Rosa Arts. I’ve learned many things—like packing pencils and making clay for children. I earned minimum wage. There was not much opportunit[y] for advancement due to my language. I didn’t know English at the time. The working conditions were also another problem; it was too cold to work in the winter. The workers were not supplied with enough heat and in the summer time it was very hot in the factory. I’ve worked there for five years from 7-4:30 p.m. because I had no other choice. I needed the work and the pay. I worked hard, because at the time, I had no children but I need[ed] a place to live and eat, so I had to work.
Have you gotten a new job, increased work hours or earnings in the recent past? No
Child Care
My child care has a good side and a bad side experience. The good side is that Program for Parents are always on time paying the people who take care of my children. The bad side is that they are very small children. They miss having their mother cook for them on time; help with their homework too. They don’t like to live at a daycare center. Our whole schedule has changed around. I’m very grateful for those people who are taking care of my children while I do something positive for myself. However, I’m feeling like I’m missing out on my young children’s lives.
Have you received child care assistance to help you get to work? Yes
Transportation
Transportation has been very difficult for me. I am seven months pregnant and I have to take public transportation. Two buses to go [to] and two buses to get [from] job training. It’s very expensive for someone like me who has four children and one on the way. I’m always having problems with transportation. I don’t get my check on time or I hardly receive them. If it weren’t for the bus tickets I receive from my Job Plus coordinator, I don’t know how I would make it to job training.
Do you have adequate transportation t get to and from work? No
Health
My health is not that great. I’m constantly getting epileptic attacks. Since I started at LaCasa I had to stop the quantity of my medication from three times a day to one time a day. I have to rely on this medication so I won’t get the seizures. When I get an attack before coming to school, I can’t come in because I’m in a crisis, so it takes me a while to get control of myself and function for the day. Thank God my children are all in good health. There’s no problem but mine and of my child to be. I can’t risk getting hurt because I can hurt the baby inside of me.
Do you or your family have a regular doctor who normally provides care? Yes
Health Care
I receive Medicaid and my HMO is US Health Care. There are some analyses and medications that my HMO will not pay for, and I cannot afford it. Besides that everything else is okay.
Do you now have health insurance of any kind (including Medicaid)? Yes
Additional information
My challenge was to learn English and my barriers are those of my young children. I would say that I am on my way to success one day at a time through job training. I would like the President and Congress to know that there are a lot of mothers that want to get off of welfare and I am one of them. Some changes need to be done with regards to transportation and employment.
Last question: I expect things for myself and my family to get much better.
Demographics:
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Newark, NJ
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: N/A
Race: Hispanic
Number of own children at home: 4
Household size: 4Children; 1 Adult
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in household? No
Author’s gross cash earnings for pervious calendar month: $424
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? Yes
Manner: Written by author