Through a harsh and painful life of dealing with the emotional scars of rape, molestation and abuse, Laneka Pope is one of many women who have had the strength and courage to continue with her life and education.

With the support from CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) a partnership with EC, single mothers and fathers have the opportunity to pursue their goals while receiving benefits for themselves and their families.

“CalWORKs is a great program since it helps single parent students receive books, child care and transportation,” Pope, sociology major, single mother and CARE adviser for the CalWORKs office, said.

It is difficult for single parents to attend school and to work to support their families, she said.

“I am a single mother of four. When I came to El Camino, I did not expect the open arms that the office extended to me,” Pope said. “My experiences with the CalWORKs program outside of campus were stressful and frustrating.”

Not only is this program offered to single mothers, but to single fathers who are in need and would like to improve their education for their future and immediate family.

“We do have a program for single fathers. Men qualify for the same benefits as women. There is no prejudice. Men deserve the same treatment, attention and care,” Pope said.

Students who are eligible for this program may earn their degrees and at the same time receive work experience that will be beneficial to them in the long run.

“I am grateful for this program,” Silvia Moreno, nursing major, said. “I decided to go back to school and I knew it was going to be difficult because I was working so much for so little money. With this program, I was able to obtain transportation and also care for my little daughter.”

Aside from child care assistance, there are other services offered which include: county case workers, career counseling, academic advisement and assistance and work activity referral.

“I am on my way to a better life, but it will take time. I appreciate the work referral with a great deal of respect; I have a better job at this moment because of their time and individual attention they gave to me,” Moreno said.

The academic advisement assistance is there to help the student on an individual basis and to find what he or she would be interested in doing.

A set of educational goals is set to guide the student through the semester and the semesters to come.

The counselors are there for emotional support.

“Because of the cutbacks, the counselors had to sit down and rework the budget so that the students are still able to benefit from the program,” Pope said.

Students who want to receive these benefits have to be referred by the county offices in L.A.

The two groups of students eligible are students who have a self-initiated program and have already enrolled in a degree or a certificate program, or county referral, which are students who are referred to EC and have participated in a job club or a job search and assessment.

Despite the cutbacks, CalWORKs is still offering to help students in need of assistance and support.

“I will be a first-generation college graduate because of them,” Pope said.

“I am living the life of many women that walk through that office door. I am them; I am a survivor,” she said.