Rebecca Garza is the December 2002 recipient of the Family Independence Agency’s (FIA) Achiever of the Month award. This single mother of three first turned to the FIA for assistance in April 1989. At that time Rebecca was single, pregnant and needed help providing for herself and her unborn child. Through the Saginaw County FIA, Rebecca received Aid for Dependent Children, now known as the Family Independence Program (FIP) benefits, Medicaid, child day care and Food Assistance.
Other agencies also supported Rebecca’s efforts to provide for her family. In 1997, the Community Action Center supplied Rebecca with the funds to pay for emergency dental expenses, and in 2000, the local Salvation Army assisted her with a utility emergency.
Over the years Rebecca has been employed in a variety of jobs and worked extremely hard to support her household. She has worked in retail, as a dental assistant and as a receptionist. She has also been employed in a grocery store and was the lead manager at a Value City for two years.
When a Health Delivery Incorporated/Wadsworth Dental representative visited the Work First office, Rebecca spoke to the company representative about her experience in the health care field, filled out a job application, and was interviewed. In February 2001, she was hired as a receptionist/secretary at Wadsworth Dental.
To support her work efforts, Rebecca’s Work First provider, Saginaw Valley Rehabilitation Centers assisted with clothing for work and transportation. Since Rebecca did not own a car until October 2002, she used public transportation or obtained rides from her parents to get to and from her job. Saginaw Valley Rehabilitation Centers paid for public transportation and later when she purchased a car, they supplied mileage reimbursement and assisted with auto repairs.
Rebecca’s cash assistance case was closed in 1998. It remained closed until health complications from her last pregnancy prevented her from working. Once again she sought assistance to care for her family. In January 2002, her FIP case was reopened. Several months later after the birth of her son, she resumed her employment with Wadsworth Dental where she still works today.
Rebecca’s hard work and determination quickly paid off. On September 30, 2002, her cash assistance case closed due to her earnings. She continues to receive Food Assistance, child day care and Medicaid.
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Rebecca Garza is the December 2002 recipient of the Family Independence Agency’s (FIA) Achiever of the Month award. This single mother of three first turned to the FIA for assistance in April 1989. At that time Rebecca was single, pregnant and needed help providing for herself and her unborn child. Through the Saginaw County FIA, Rebecca received Aid for Dependent Children, now known as the Family Independence Program (FIP) benefits, Medicaid, child day care and Food Assistance.
