MOVEMENT PLATFORM
There are so many areas of need for many single mothers living in America. Unfortunately, we are not able to tackle them all at once. Therefore, based on research and a survey conducted by My Daughter's Keeper, Inc. in 2007, which polled 500 single mothers from across the country from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, the following areas were defined by single mothers as their greatest needs:
1. Financial Support (56%)
2. Parent Support (44%)
3. Health & Wellness (35%)
4. Education (33%)
5. Spiritual Support (27%)
Focus groups conducted with single mothers identified several issues which many feel have impacted their lives as a result of lack of support, gaps in service or non-existent programs to help single mothers address these areas of concern. These are issues that Project Single Moms plan to champion around to advocate for greater access and funding earmarked specifically for programs identified by single mothers which offer a hand up toward obtaining self-sufficiency and not a hand out which only offers temporary solutions for long-term problems and challenges faced by many single mothers in America.
Domestic Violence:
There are too few programs nationally offering women living in domestic violence situations a long-term way out of abuse for themselves and their children. PSM advocates for additional state & federal assistance to provide long-term support to single and married mothers who want to permanently escape their abusers. Services such as relocation (in-state or out-of-state) and programs which provide support transitioning to self-sufficiency as a single parent would encourage and motivate more women to leave their domestically violent situations sooner rather than later. In addition, married women in domestic violence situations generally become single mothers once they leave their abusers permanently.
Education:
There are thousands of single mothers who understand the importance of obtaining advanced degrees as a means to improve their quality of life. Research indicates that individuals with an advanced degree earn four times more than a person with only a high school education. Many single mothers work at least two jobs to try to earn extra money to go back to school. Because they work and earn more than what is required to be eligible for financial aid or scholarships, they have few if any other sources to identify financial assistance to pursue a higher education. Most single mothers work tirelessly and effortlessly to manage their households and to raise their children while often caring for others. Those single mothers who desire to pursue an advanced degree to be able to become more marketable for higher paying jobs and careers with upward mobility, should not be denied access to education because they do not have the financial means to pay out-of-pocket for their education. PSM advocates for colleges & universities to earmark and set-aside full-ride scholarships for single mothers who desire to obtain advanced degrees.
Child Support:
There are still thousands of single mothers who are eligible to receive child support to assist with raising their children, however, they are not receiving this support. PSM advocates for services through the state and federal government to help track the fathers and their assets so that single mothers are able to receive financial assistance to help with the expenses of raising their children.
If you would like to partner with Project Single Moms in support of our platform issues. Please email us at contactus@projectsinglemoms.com. Thank you in advance for your support!
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