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American Morning

Fifth Anniversary of Welfare Reform in U.S.

Aired August 02, 2001 - 09:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: This is the fifth anniversary of welfare reform in the U.S. The welfare-to-work initiative was designed initially to curb the cycle of government dependence. Now, a study shows the number of families receiving welfare has declined by 50 percent.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has one woman's success story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sylvia Shields is on the fast track at work. She was hired by Target Stores only a month ago. Already she has her sights on moving up to management.

SYLVIA SHIELDS, FMR. WELFARE RECIPIENT: Just to know, number one, that I have a job, that's a big thing for me.

GUTIERREZ: It's a huge change in her life. Not long ago, Sylvia was completely dependent on welfare, with little to look forward to.

SHIELDS: I was very depressed. So I was just, like, giving up, like oh well.

GUTIERREZ: Then came welfare reform, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, aimed at getting people off welfare and into jobs. People like Sylvia were given a deadline of five years to get off public assistance.

SHIELDS: For a moment, I'm not going to lie, I did panic. I did panic.

GUTIERREZ: Sylvia is a single mother, raising two daughters. After a divorce, she had to rely on welfare, $700 a month in federal assistance and food stamps to get by.

SHIELDS: It brings your self-esteem down. Your self...

GUTIERREZ: She still remembers the stares in the grocery store checkout line, and the comments.

SHIELDS: You get a lot of humiliation.

GUTIERREZ: Sylvia knew she needed a job. It wasn't going to be easy. CHARLOTTE LIN'STRUM, JOB TRAINING COORDINATOR: They need the support because they have no background. They have never had a job, never looked for a job. They don't have a clue as to what to do.

GUTIERREZ: The Los Angeles Valley College Job Training program helped Sylvia and hundreds of others learn basic skills to land that first job. They're also provided with child care to make sure they go to school or go to work.

LENNIE CIUFO, L.A. VALLEY COLLEGE JOB TRAINING: Now we're getting new taxpayers in our community. They're getting off federal aid,and we're showing them the positive light of what they should experience in the future for their families.

GUTIERREZ: Sylvia says with the support of different programs to help wean her from welfare, she has found she's good at what she does, and that now she can be a role model for her own daughters.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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