Work First Plan Approved 01-20-1998-9a

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12- According to estimates from Orange- Person - Chatham Mental Health Center, as many as 35% of Work First participants are chemically addicted, yet fewer than 15% are receiving services. The Department of Social Services estimates that 60% of the Work First population has some level of substance abuse. Of those persons who are unable to find employment, approximately 85% are not placed because they do not pass a drug test or they have a criminal record. Medicaid provides full coverage for chemical addiction treatment programs, but some people will not accept the services and others lose the benefits when they no longer qualify for Medicaid. 10. Key Issues and Pressing_ Problems For Work First Participants • Unskilled and semi - skilled workers without a high school diploma or equivalency are unable to find full -time (35 hours +) jobs that provide a living wage. • People without marketable skills do not have access to skills building opportunities and on- the-job training. • People with little or no work experience may lack basic job seeking and interviewing skills and may know little about their own job or career interests or abilities. • Some people who have inadequate parenting, money management, and life management skills, and/or lack of other basics such as a phone, drivers license, appropriate clothing, etc. do not have the social, emotional or financial support to gain these basics on their own. • Teen parents have unique problems in addition to those faced by all other recipients of public assistance. These include staying in school while parenting, gaining parenting skills, and living in an abusive situation without money for deposits, rent, etc. or adequate social support to leave the abusive situation. • People with chemical addictions, a criminal record, chronic physical or mental health problems and poor life skills are especially hard to place and keep in a job. • Transportation to school, training, child care, employment is not available or is too expensive. • Child and adult dependent care are not available during non - traditional hours or in the summer. • The non - custodial parent fails to provide support, including and beyond support payments. • The escalating cost of housing in Orange County makes it unreasonably difficult for people who qualify for public assistance to work their way out of poverty. • Major, unexpected life events may cause expenses to exceed income in Work First families who are in work placements with marginal incomes. Examples: illness, loss of job, change of job, death in the family, divorce, separation, new household member, major automobile or home repair. • Some recurring crisis situations indicate a mental health problem but this goes unrecognized or unacknowledged by the individual and untreated by the human services system. • Emergency assistance services are scattered among several agencies throughout the county and region. As a result, people have difficulty accessing all the services they need. Also, resources for emergency assistance are decreasing while the demand for these services is increasing. • Lack of personal safety in the home, neighborhood or community. • No zoning for manufacturing, warehouse, or construction industries exists in Orange County south of the I -40 /Old NC 86 exchange. 11