We also know that 20 to 60 percent of the aid caseload has some barrier to employment. It is most often substance abuse. To deal with that, we decided to give a block of grant money to counties to address treatment issues. Treatment without work is irresponsible. The disability communities have taught us that if you are physically or developmentally disabled, mentally ill, or substance addicted, you do better with work.
Work is therapeutic.
Skills training is important. It is important that people have skills in order to go to work. But in California I am always astonished at the people jumping over the border every night who speak no English, have not gone to any school in the United States, and probably only to third or fourth grade in their own country, but who two days later are employed. In the United States we say that it is important that people have high school diplomas and good English skills in order to work. We believe that skills training should go along with work.