Briefly tell us about your family background/structure?
I grew up in Humboldt County, but have lived in Sacramento for about 10 years. I am a single mother to a one year old daughter.

Tell us about the type of success you achieved while on the Shingle Springs Tribal TANF Program.
I unexpectedly lost my job and had zero income to support my daughter. I came to the Shingle Springs Tribal TANF Program for assistance until I could find full-time work. I am now employed full time with SSTTP and get to help other Native American families on the program.

Who played a significant role or motivated you in your success story?
My daughter has been my main motivation. I want her to see that hard work always pays off, and although sometimes we need assistance, we are the ones that have to change our own situation.

What were some of the barriers you experienced along the way to your success?
Being a single mother with no family in the area is hard. There were times that I had to miss employment interviews because I didn’t have child care. It got hard to stay positive when I worked so hard to get an interview and then had to miss it.

What were some of your personal strengths you used to obtain success?
Staying motivated when things got tough and using those challenges to work harder and push through.

What is your future goal/next step in your Family Wellness Plan?
My next step is to continue to learn and grow at my current position and work my way up. I would also like to take some college classes and start working toward a degree.

What advice can you give to participants on SSTTP?
Surround yourself with people who support you. Work hard and use the resources that the Springs Tribal TANF Program has to offer.