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Single Working Parents Single parent is the person who is the head of the household, who has 1 or more children and who is either separated, divorced or was never married. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2003, there are 2, 260 single fathers (1, 758 Whites, 1, 330 non-Hispanic, 353 Black only and 450 Hispanic or other race) and 10, 142 single mothers (6, 471 Whites, 4, 870 non-Hispanic, 3, 124 Black only and 1, 807 Hispanic or other race) (in thousands). 357 thousand of single fathers and 3, 268 single mothers are below poverty level compared to 1, 903 thousand of single fathers and 6, 875 thousand of single mothers at or above poverty level. According to U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate among single parents is quite high. 69. 8 % of all single mothers are employed and 62. 7 % of never-married mothers employed (2003) compared to 61. 7 % of all single mothers and 49 % of never-married mothers in 1995. According to U. S. Department of Labor: Calculations by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Single Mothers' Employment Rate Gains and Losses, by Race (annual averages) reach 72. 3 for white single mothers, 65. 6 for black single mothers, 64. 6 for Hispanic single mothers and 64. 8 for never married white mothers, 60. 9 for black and 57. 7 for Hispanic mothers correspondingly. American Government proposes number of state and federal programs that protect single parents such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Unemployed Parents (TANF UP), Food Stamps, Medicaid for Families and Children, Medical Need Programs, to mention a few. The Department of Health and Human Services, The Children's Defense Fund and such programs like Head Start, Safe Start and Fair Start are also dedicated to helping children and their families.
National programs include the National Parent Information Network sponsored by the US Department of Education, The National Fatherhood Initiative, The Fatherhood Project, etc. (Texas Attorney General n. p. ). Besides, there are other federal and local resources that support single working parents. Fir example, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) spends 92 % of the money for charitable purposes and is devoted entirely to support of Americas vulnerable children and their families (CWLA Website n. p. ). Family and Youth Services Bureau, Family Research Council, Inc, Head Start Bureau and other organizations are also aimed to support single parents.
In order to implement the most effective policy in relation to single parents, we need to strengthen their social positions. One of the recommendations is to give them adequate access to all possible sources of support, and to provide them with an opportunity to take part in these processes. In such a way, single parents will be not only consumers of services but co-participants of formation of parenting policy. Such idea of social partnership will inevitably improve status of single parents. References: Child Welfare League of America Website. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
web Sherman, Allow. (June 22, 2004). Employment Rates for Single Mothers Fell Substantially During recent Period of Labor Market Weakness. Retrieved November 25, 2006. web Texas Attorney General Website. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
web US Census (2004). Americas Families and Living Arrangements: 2003. Retrieved November 25, 2006. web
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Research essay sample on Single Mothers Needy Families
