Port Huron resident Akia Mitchell is the 130th recipient of the Family Independence Agency’s (FIA) Achiever of the Month award. This single parent of two children first came to the FIA in November 1998. At that time, her youngest child was a baby and Akia, needed medical assistance for him. The FIA approved Medicaid for her son.

In February 1999, Akia again, applied to the FIA for assistance. She was unemployed, had a baby, lived at home with her mother and was beginning her college education at St. Clair County Community College. Through the St. Clair County, FIA Akia received Family Independence Program (FIP) benefits to help make ends meet.

The following month Akia found employment and, with assistance from Work First, purchased a car to get her to work and school. When the car began having mechanical problems, Work First assisted Akia with funds for vehicle repairs. Akia’s FIP case closed due to her earnings in April of 1999. Additionally, she found federally subsidized housing, moved into her own apartment and continued to attend St. Clair Community College.

In April 2000, Akia’s life took a difficult turn. She was unemployed and expecting her second child. To help provide for her family, she came to the St. Clair County FIA for Medicaid and FIP benefits.

The FIA referred Akia to Work First. She was assigned to the Job Club program, where she discussed her plans to become an elementary school teacher. In May 2000, Akia found employment at a local McDonald’s and continued to attend classes at St. Clair Community College. The FIA assisted her efforts by supplying funds for child day care. Akia’s cash assistance ended in March 2003, due to her earnings.

In May 2003, Akia transferred to Saginaw Valley State University and began substitute teaching. Although teaching assignments were not daily, Akia did receive some income and valuable work experience. To help make ends meet, Akia applied for and received FIP and Food Assistance benefits.

Akia received her teaching degree from Saginaw Valley State University in June 2003. In August, that same year she secured a teaching position at Cleveland Elementary School in Port Huron. Currently, she teaches at Indian Woods Elementary School, which is also located in Port Huron.

Akia’s Cash and Food Assistance case closed on September 6, 2003, and her child day care case closed on December 30, 2003. Her children continued to receive transitional Medicaid until September 2004.