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says. But a car repair such as a timing belt provide a clue. In a given year, about 70 respondents were working at least part time.
<br /> or brake job can run$400 or more.A lump percent of those people will earn money The average wage was$8 an hour.
<br /> payment of$600 to$1,000 can take care of from work sometime in the next year."We Some findings were unique to the Cha-
<br /> such an urgent need and allow the head of a don't know what happens to those who don't tham study, Rather than using formal
<br /> Emily to continue to work.This approach have earnings," Duncan says. "We suspect day care, 80 percent of respondents used
<br /> contrasts with the old federal program, that a certain proportion are working in neighbors or relatives who could accom-
<br /> Aid to Families with Dependent Children, the underground economy—doing things modate their evening and weekend work
<br /> which gave clients full benefits or nothing. like babysitting or repairing cars or running schedules. "That may not be the best
<br /> errands for somebody." child care, but that's child care for them,"
<br /> Running out of time Studies from other states show that Dobelstein says. "We don't have good
<br /> At the end of 2001, Duncan's numbers people still struggle after leaving public information at all about the day care that is
<br /> warned of an unprecedented event-213 assistance.In 1999 the National Conference being provided in this informal network"
<br /> people were scheduled to have their of State Legislatures published a summary Dobelstein also finds it striking that
<br /> monthly checks stop for good.These are the of studies of former welfare recipients in 19 many of the families in his study did not
<br /> first group of people in North Carolina to states. Most families said they were better use the benefits still available to them after
<br /> exhaust their benefits under the 60-month off than when they were on welfare but leaving Work First.Just 48 percent of the
<br /> federal lifetime limit. Duncan says that were struggling to get by. Lack of child respondents took advantage of the earned
<br /> many of these clients may qualify for dis- care and transportation continue to be income tax credit, while only 10 percent
<br /> ability payments or supplemental security obstacles to working. About half of the used mental health or social services.
<br /> income. And 37 of them have received former recipients have a job or earn some "People in this low-income group don't
<br /> hardship extensions and are still receiving money from work, most earning between tend to use the formal services very much,"
<br /> Work First assistance. Duncan's team will $5.50 and$8 an hour. Dobelstein says. "It's a universal problem
<br /> be able to keep tracking most of these clients Andrew Dobelstein professor of social that social welfare elfare a encies are facing.
<br /> because they'll still receive Medicaid and work, found similar patterns in a survey of Services do not substitute for food on the
<br /> food stamps.But it's not clear how most of 58 former Work First clients in Chatham table. One reason, perhaps, why people
<br /> these families will make ends meet. County, a study he led through his non- in the Chatham County study did not
<br /> Families who have left Work First on profit organization, the Conference on use services could be that compared with
<br /> their own or through the 24-month limit Poverty.Seventy-six percent of the Chatham increased income from working,the services
<br /> had little appeal to these people."
<br /> e k o No one claims that Work First is perfect.
<br /> _ In the case study of Buncombe County,
<br /> one social services worker said that while
<br /> Work First helps more people find jobs,
<br /> a many of those jobs will not move people out
<br /> r, ,.wP otm A sets(DSS) 6' of poverty. "A person with aninth-grade
<br /> tram ch s :. ge "
<br /> .,ynr 'lw education can get a job, but they cannot
<br /> �r:"
<br /> rlientrbgalarly"` become self-sufficient" the worker said.
<br /> r,+st �� ' Bien[toto Jbb'', Another added that more money is needed
<br /> P'm ay.
<br /> oa gateproblems; to help people overcome obstacles that
<br /> 01"" ,; .Y E s wont go away overnight such as mental
<br /> $ {�aotncome woman illness or substance-abuse problems.
<br /> "m;jcee hg 74 sldils�whddAi But right now resources are limited for
<br /> �enroijed ; z nets t, 5 v
<br /> " ,,„p �ty;tpartts�mne3ob,! the basics such as day care. For instance,
<br /> "den wr0" fiE: been suppornng her in Orange County there were about 300
<br /> "r Bnt people on a waiting list for child-care sub-
<br /> y { „pa k k f} T ". d a,She�regwred to ' sidies in early 2002,according to Gilmore.
<br /> w 1. e ;, ffil W 0 Commer 'al da "Welfare reform was and is an experi-
<br /> wres e chifir t� rs ehe r ed before we"ren4 available ment"Cooke says.For many, the welfare-
<br /> " a7 ate + , �. r
<br /> To top riff"she eotil�n4 reach fier.,fadkbackup, her'srster, because her sisters reform experiment has only just begun.
<br /> phone service bad beid t&off"
<br /> So the woman staged wreh her eluldrea o�Nears pa�{And she got fired .: You can visit the web site of Dsrncan'r prajert
<br /> 4Unforttmaraely;`itYthewoinanretnrDstoWo ltFirst heryearofself-sitffcienrywonV, at btip://srw.zene.edu/warkfrrst, and the
<br /> be counted as s sneaess on3the Work Fpst"report card"ache statisucs'will sunplq; site of Cooke and Wright's prajea at limp:
<br /> show one more er"soaaddedtothe`caselaad'" sa y t, sir;s ap ter;•; www.unc.edu/depts/welfare% Dobeistein's
<br /> Morgan says;'"To have worloed with"this woman and have brought her due far thee beak The 1996 Federal Welfare Reform in
<br /> mjlaye '
<br /> North Carolina was pub/bbed in May 2002
<br /> -,. i - '' " % •.L. i'" ,,' ., .M by Edwin Mellen Prw.
<br /> 32 endeavors
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