RESPONDENTS IN BOTH FOCUS GROUPS RESPONDED SIMILARLY TO A QUESTION REGARDING THE NEEDS OF SINGLE MOTHERS.

All respondents were asked what the needs of single parents were. Participants in both groups were able to articulate the needs of single mothers, including money to pay rent (shelter), food, clothing, child care, education, reliable after-school programs, health benefits, transportation, quality education for children, time to spend with children, education for themselves, job training, decent wages, "child support paid," emotional support ("support groups") and "occasional time for myself."

They understood that a variety of circumstances cause people to apply for assistance programs and services. There were mentions of health problems, drug addiction, divorce, crime, mental illness, abuse, teen pregnancy, "poor planning," no reliable child care, a lack of education and lack of job skills.

A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CURRENT W-2 USERS AND THE GROUP WHO WERE NOT W-2 USERS WAS THAT THE LATTER GROUP CONSISTED OF THE "WORKING POOR."

It was not unusual in the group of lower income single mothers (not on W-2) to hear of individuals working two or three jobs, who still could not make ends meet. Some of the jobs mentioned were at McDonalds, MPS, Walgreens, Froedtert and Aurora. Assistant Manager, newspaper carrier, and housekeeper were also mentioned. Several respondents were also furthering their education (MATC and Mount Mary were mentioned). Some respondents said it was impossible to take care of their families on jobs that paid $8 or $9 an hour, so they were working multiple jobs. In some cases, they said they could not get enough hours to qualify for benefits. They asked the question, "how can we ever get ahead?" 

"You can't live on a McDonald's job, with five kids." (GII)

"I want more hours. I need 30 hours for health benefits, but they won't give me the hours." (GII)

Although they took pride in what they were doing (working multiple low paying jobs, or furthering their education), these respondents still were frustrated about their chances of improving their lives, raising their children in a quality way (good day care and time to spend with their children), and acquiring benefits that would provide their families with a sense of security. However, there was a sense of determination and pride to make it on their own that was not as evident in the W-2 group.

"I don't want to be a stereotype. I don't want to wait at home for a check. I want to earn that check." (GII)

THERE SEEMED TO BE A REALIZATION AMONG SOME RESPONDENTS THAT FAMILY SUPPORT PLAYS A ROLE IN KEEPING PEOPLE OFF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

In both groups, respondents talked about the difference that family and friends can make to low income single mothers. Financial and emotional support could make the difference in applying or not applying for W-2. Coming from a family culture that encouraged hard work and persistence also contributed to an ability to raise one’s self up.

"Some people have nobody. No mom, dad, siblings or grandparents. It took me a lot to go through being abused." (GI)

"I didn't plan ahead. I got pregnant out of high school. I still depend on my Daddy." (GII)

"My parents help buying groceries and gas money." (GII)

"My parents help babysit." (GII)

"There's an attitude that comes from family and what they are used to. Kids learn from example and the parents' attitudes carry over. I can take help from people (parents) who know I am doing the best I can do. But if I had to sit at home, I would wither and die. If I got stuck in the system, I would be on it forever. I couldn't stand that." (GII)

"Some people don't have the support, someone to say 'I believe in you.’" (GII)

"Without that support, where would we be? Gang banging." (GII).

THERE WERE A FEW INDIVIDUALS IN THE GROUP OF NON-USERS WHO HAD USED AFDC, W-2 OR OTHER SERVICES IN THE PAST, BUT WERE NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING ASSISTANCE.

A few respondents had used assistance programs in the past, namely AFDC and W-2. They were more likely to view the assistance as a temporary measure or a trap into "the system" that should be avoided.

"Certain portions of the program do help while you are trying to get back on your feet. But I hate people who take advantage of the system." (GII)

"I didn't want to be part of the system. You go in and tell them your life story and if you miss one appointment, they cut you off food stamps. So I went to school and got a job." (GII)

ALTHOUGH CURRENT W-2 USERS WERE ABLE TO NAME SOME OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM, AWARENESS WAS NOT CONSISTENT.

Not everyone was aware of the services or how they could access them. A couple of individuals claimed that W-2 workers informed them about W-2 services, but not about other programs that could benefit them. Moreover, some Non-Users said they were not aware of services that could benefit them. As one individual said, "Not everyone is aware of these services. They should tell us about these."

Some of the services that respondents mentioned were:

AS SINGLE MOTHERS, ONE CONCERN PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH GROUPS BROUGHT UP WAS THE QUALITY OF DAY CARE AVAILABLE.

Individuals in both groups expressed concern and fear about the quality of day care that was available. They worried about the quality of care and how to handle days when their kids were sick.

"Day care treats kids so bad. You only have a certain amount of time to find day care and there are so many bad day care centers out there." (GI)

"Even when your kid turns five, it's better. Then they can tell you what is going on." (GI)

"I couldn't keep a job because my kid has a serious health problem." (GI)

"If you are working two jobs, who is at home with the kids? If I had my way I would be home. But I am trying to show my kids responsibility, not to be lazy. If you stay home with your kids, they stereotype you as 'lazy. ' That's not fair." (GII)

"Do you know day care costs $192 a week?" (GII)

"Young babies, it's the babies that cost more." (GII)

"Larger companies should put together day care for employees at a discounted rate." (GII)

THERE WERE A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO FELT THAT ABUSES OF AFDC CREATED W-2.

Interestingly, there were several respondents, particularly in the Non-User group who felt that abuses of past assistance programs created W-2. According to some individuals, the haste to make people work, at any job, has created another set of problems. A program that stressed working without higher education or advanced job skills still was considered a limited way of empowering people.

"The system allowed this to happen. If AFDC had stricter rules, they wouldn't have the problems they do now." (GII)

"Wisconsin paid the highest and people from other states would come here. They made it easy to get comfortable." (GII)

"I wish I could have pushed out the women who didn't need it. That's why it's so tough now to get assistance." (GI)

ACCORDING TO SOME RESPONDENTS, W-2 IS CREATING ANOTHER TYPE OF "SLAVE" OR CASTE SYSTEM MADE UP OF PEOPLE PREPARED TO WORK ONLY IN MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.

Respondents who are currently on W-2 had a number of criticisms about W-2. In spite of the fact they understood the basic concept of job training and working instead of "welfare," they said that the type of job training and jobs that were available were keeping them in dead-end situations. Examples are respondents with nursing skills, accounting skills, computer skills, tailoring skills being placed in unskilled manual labor jobs. There was anger over the quality of job training, interruptions in job training and the jobs themselves. Respondents asked "how can we better ourselves or ever aspire higher when all we're being prepared to do is work at Good Will?"

"W-2 sends you to places which provide poor training." (GI)

"The training just isn't there." (GI)

"I have a background in accounting and they sent me to a job where I break hangers all day." (GI)

"What kind of jobs are available -- welding, construction, truck driving?" (GI)

"They will help you get a job, but not one that will support your family." (GII)

"They are all dead-end jobs. Who wants to work at the Salvation Army?" (GI)

"W-2 gives you a job, but not a good job." (GII)

"We can work for five years, but if they never train us, we will never get ahead." (GI)

"Just having a job does not mean you have a future. W-2 misleads you into thinking you have a future." (GI)

A SIGNIFICANT QUESTION FROM RESPONDENTS WAS WHY W-2 DOES NOT ADDRESS HIGHER EDUCATION.

Respondents in both groups said they felt that the "ticket" to improving their lives was both job training and higher education, in particular college courses. There were questions about why W-2 included opportunities to finish high school, but not college.

"Under W-2 you have to work. But what about school? How can I work, go to college and raise four kids at the same time, all by myself?" (GI).

"They try and send some people to school for their GED. The problem is college -- which would give you the more skilled job training." (GI)

"They should send people to school or help with tuition. Does the program help to get the education to get the benefits? No, just a job. We need more than just a job to improve our lives." (GII)

RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THAT UNDER W-2, THERE SHOULD BE A "PLAN" TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.

Participants in both groups were able to articulate that in order to better their lives, a "plan" was necessary to bring them to the next step in their search to become independent and better their lives. One respondent asked, "Don't you need a plan to succeed in anything? Where is the plan in W-2?" Rather than a cookie-cutter approach, the request was for individual plans to help respondents improve their lives.

"They should look at you and your individual situation. Some of us have physical problems or education issues." (GI)

"No two situations are alike that made us need assistance." (GI)

"W-2 doesn't give you what you need; they give you what they think you need." (GI)

"Rules are set for everybody, even when each situation is different." (GI)

"They need to help a person work toward their goal. You've got to have a plan or you're screwed." (GI)

ACCORDING TO RESPONDENTS, A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH W-2 IS THE "FEPS" OR FINANCIAL EMPLOYMENT PLANNERS THEY WORK WITH.

Although there were a few individuals who praised their W-2 worker, there were reports that W-2 workers looked down upon participants, were rude, lazy, overly aggressive in "sanctioning" participants (money or benefits reduced/denied for "perceived violations") and even purposefully sabotaged their opportunities for success. While current users were grateful for any child care steerance, the medical benefits and food stamps, they were very concerned about the way they were treated by the FEPS. A few individuals suggested more training for the FEPS on "working with the public.".

"The people working there are ex-AFDC people, and they have this attitude; they look down on you. 'I have a job and you don't.'" (GII)

"We are not on their level. They act real uppity because we are on assistance and they are not." (GI)

"They treat you like a number. There is not even common courtesy." (GII)

"They hold your life in their hands. If she thinks you need help, she will help you." (GI)

"There's a real nasty attitude." (GI)

"They don't like their jobs and so they take it out on you." (GI)

"You wait for hours for your appointment only to find out your FEP is on vacation." (GII)

"They tell you to come in and they are not there. They make you wait and then tell you they are not there." (GI)

"If you dare to complain, they will treat you badly." (GI)

"She conveniently loses my papers." (GI)

"She doesn't listen to me. We don't have an opinion. We have to do what they tell us." (GI).

W-2 income information provided by Employment Solutions, Inc, and the Milwaukee Job Center North.