She first came to the Family Independence Agency (FIA) for assistance in September 1999, when she was pregnant and needed help providing for herself and her unborn child. Although she was working, she had no medical insurance, no transportation and limited education. Carmen was approved for Healthy Kids Pregnant Woman and received prenatal care and later hospital services to assist with her baby’s delivery.

During her pregnancy Carmen, who had not completed high school, began working on her GED. She wanted to provide for her baby and realized she would have better employment opportunities if she earned her GED.

Unfortunately, in March 2000, the restaurant where Carmen was working closed and she became unemployed. Once again, Carmen turned to the FIA for assistance. Through the Ottawa County FIA she received Family Independence Program (FIP) benefits, Food Assistance and Medicaid.

The FIA also referred Carmen to the Work First program. Work First helped Carmen improve her interviewing skills, arranged for transportation to and from Job Club and assisted with job search activities. They also provided her with paid employment experience at Kandu Industries, a Work First subcontractor.

In April 2000, Carmen successfully completed her GED. In addition, she was referred to the Parenting Plus Program where she received instruction on parenting. The following month, her son was born and the Ottawa County Health Department assisted her by providing Infant Support Services.

With help from Work First, Carmen found employment at Fudruckers Restaurant in August 2000. The FIA supported her work efforts by providing child day care. That same month Carmen’s cash assistance case closed due to her earnings. However, in December 2000, when her work hours at the restaurant were decreased, she once again applied for assistance to help make ends meet.

Through her own initiative Carmen found additional employment at a Bill Mar Restaurant. On March 10, 2001, her cash assistance case closed and has remained closed. Through a self-initiated job search Carmen found employment on April 30, 2001, at a Pizza Hut in Grand Haven. She still works there today. In fact, her employment has been so successful, she has advanced from a waitress position to shift manager.

Carmen’s Food Assistance case closed on August 31, 2001. She continues to receive child day care, Healthy Kids and transitional Medicaid Plus.