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25 <br />XI. Special Issues <br />Orange County's current Work First population faces multiple obstacles in <br />obtaining and retaining employment. Work First participants are competing for <br />jobs with a highly skilled workforce. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers without <br />a high school diploma and a recent connection to the workforce are unable to <br />obtain jobs that provide a living wage. Barriers such as substance abuse, criminal <br />records and chronic physical and mental health problems have no quick fix. They <br />are resolved as a result of participant commitment, adequate resources, and time. <br />Employment barriers are realities for low-income families in Orange County. <br />Listed below are typical barriers experienced by low-income families in Orange <br />County: <br />• Lack of adequate and affordable transportation, <br />• Lack of education, <br />• Limited work experience, <br />• Lack ofnon-traditional dependent care hours, <br />• Lack of affordable housing, <br />• Chemical dependency, <br />• Lack of resources to handle crises. <br />Jobs paying a living wage require more skill and education than participants have. <br />Orange County Work First participants are competing against a highly educated <br />pool for entry-level positions. Work First participants typically have insufFcienf <br />financial supports and personal resources to handle problems that occur. Few <br />participants have aback-up plan for childcare or if their transportation breaks <br />down. <br />Orange County's vision and mission statement apply to all citizens in Orange <br />County. The County has in place a safety net of services for those people who do <br />not have success through Work First or other programs. The Work First Block <br />Grant Planning Committee will continue to address issues that affect the success <br />oflow-income families in Orange County and implement action steps to improve <br />the well-being of families. <br />