Adjustment to working is also an issue. Some may be at their first job in many years and have physical and mental stress making lifestyle changes. A workday may be 12 - 14 hours including child care drop off and pickup and transportation. There is depression and need for family counseling. Of the 175 families served last year by Catholic Charities, only 13.61 held an associate degree, the indicator of a move from job to career.
Education is the key to a livable working wage and a major hurdle for welfare families.
There is a great need, for example, for Spanish speaking trainers for home care workers. Nearly every family contacted cited the importance of child care, health insurance, transportation and a move up the pay scale. While the number of families on welfare are decreasing, caseloads are increasing and have at least doubled in the three years since welfare reform. Most have left because of an increase in earnings and employment. Families earning three times above their welfare grant lose the grant.