Bibliography – Assistance for Single Families

Articles

Harkness, S., Gregg, P., & Fernández-salgado, M. (n.d.). The rise in single‐mother families and Childrens Cognitive Development. Wiley Online Library. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdev.13342

A general knowledge of single-motherhood is important for Human Service workers. Many single-mothers are at risk for poverty and struggle in the financial area. If a worker or student is planning to become a social worker or work with an organization preventing poverty they may run into situations such as this. This also provides information on a single-mothers income over the years, maternity leave facts, and information on the effects a relationship status in the past may affect the situation. This article can provide more statistical information for those mothers as well. It provides facts and possible lively outcomes for the child and the mother individually or together. This article can inform everybody of the struggles a single-mother experiences in life. Articles such as this one are very informative and focus on the patterns that began decades ago. Educational articles are very helpful to workers and families.

Heinonen, Krsitiina. “Describing Being a Single Parent of Multiples.” International Journal of Caring Sciences, Sept. 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from http://www.internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/docs/1_heinonen_original_12_3.pdf.

Describing Being a Single Parent of Multiples is a study done on the experiences of single parents. Also providing a brief scientific study on genetics, however it is not the main focus of the article. Focusing on four themes surrounding single parenthood: Moving forward, being surrounded by demands, diversity of relationships and the world is different. It captures key elements of what being a single parent is truly like, such as their description of “moving forward” is taking one day at a time. To be present in the life ahead of you. Also accounting for the constant demands while being a lone parent such as work and child care. The diversity of relationships recognizes the support system single parents may need, this could be friends, family, or support groups. Finally, touching base on the importance of having a healthy and happy home again. A better world to live in. This all ties into our understanding of human service practice as all these elements exist in a single parent’s life, as a service worker it is important to recognize internal or external factors that may be affecting the individual to effectively walk beside someone.

Marcdante, K. J., Garfield, C., Kliegman, R. M., Meyer, M. H., Parker, W. M., Heller, T., Fallon, B., Joh-Carnella, N., Wilson, W. J., Quane, J. M., McLanahan, S. S., Carlson, M. J., & Arboleda-Flórez, J. E. (2019). Single Parent Family – an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/single-parent-family

The source Single-Parent Family provides very in-depth detail on how single parent families can function; we also found it to be very informative and insightful. The many issues for example: Less social time, isolation and negative mental health issues are all emphasized in this article. This directly relates to what we have learned in our HUMS program, and it can be applied forward to gain a better understanding on how to approach or be aware of these significant issues if we were to encounter a single parent service user. A single parent may access this and gain more awareness of the potential challenges they could be facing. It could even normalize their feelings surrounding it by knowing their experience is recognized. There are also very good informative sections such as race, media, culture, gender, poverty etc. This site is very congruent with our values and practice as human service workers, as it explores relevant topics such as gender and inequality. Also analyzing the struggles, a single family could be experiencing on a regular basis.

Schulte, B., & Pabst, S. (2021, August 27). Combating burnout as a single working parent. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2021/06/combating-burnout-as-a-single-working-parent

In the article Combating Burnout as a Single Parent, we found its relevance to Human Service Practice from the reality of being a working-class single parent. This can be tiring and exhausting. Combating burnout can be applied to the family dynamics or triangles that we use to define families. Perhaps this will provide less stressful triangulations within a single parent household, as working and raising a child can cause strain. This may alleviate any emotions of single parents that feel discouragement. “If people can understand that burnout is not an individual problem or personal failure that requires an individual solution to fix, they’re less likely to feel guilt or shame.” (Schulte & Pabst, 2021). A single mother or father accessing this site may find it beneficial to discover alternate approaches to dealing with the many stressors that exist with being a single parent and work-life balance.

Videos

CNBC. (2016). Finance Tips For Single Parents. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN0qw-y9bCY&t=2s

In this video Sharon Epperson educates and gives 5 tips to newly single parents. Just because they are raising children on their own doesn’t mean they have to struggle financially. This is relevant to Human Service practitioners as they may encounter a situation where a single-parent is struggling financially and depending on the severity of the family’s circumstances they may require more help than others. Having a good sense of what financial stability means and how to assist those who lack it will help workers help others. These tips Sharon has provided target the parents who are raising a child alone and spiralling in financial struggles and concern. She mentions to them that they can get back on their feet and organize their money independently and to be smart about it.

I Can Do It – Powerful Motivational Speech Video (Featuring Lisa Nichols). (2020). [Video File]. YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj7utbR4rMc

Lisa Nichols speaks about her struggles as a single mother and her realization that she had to rescue herself first. In order to care for her child she had to care for herself. She motivates people to take risks that are required for self-growth. Lisa speaks about her experience with demotivation as a child. She inspires people to be extraordinary. Everybody that watches this can learn how to motivate and how to be motivated. Every video workers watch they appeal more and more to their feelings towards other peoples stories. This teaches practitioners to be empathetic and humble. And teaches single-parents that they will get through the hard times and they will persevere as long as they acknowledge themselves and not just others.

Supernanny Jo Frost’s Parenting Tips | Scary Mommy Speaks | Scary Mommy. (2020). [Video File]. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfwCX6s0oJ8

In this video Ashley Hearon-Smith interviews nanny guru Jo Frost. Jo speaks about the safety and security that children need. Jo values the risk families take when they go on her show. She admires the courage, vulnerability, and bravery they present while consenting to be on her show. Once again in this video she educates parents on connection, consistency, and compliance. When human service workers watch this they can absorb the information Jo is giving people. Parents can watch this video and feel like they have more control and freedom over their child and their life. This can also help lead them to her website or twitter and they can ask questions that Jo answers. She also has her own show. It is all about family and child welfare.

TEDx Talks. (2017). The Myth of ‘Broken’ Families. [Video File]. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr8H8Yx1-2E&t=11s

In this Ted Talk by Nina Farr, she talks about her personal experience as a single-mother to two boys. She explains the shame and guilt she felt when she was labelled as a “broken family”. The pain she experienced taught her that she has to value herself. Nina began to focus on herself, practicing self-care and self-love. Rebuilding her life from the ground up helped her realize her worth and build healthy relationships with not only her family but with herself. Nina’s feelings can help workers understand and gain knowledge on the struggles that single-parents experience so that they may appeal to their clients and have a greater understanding of the negativity they have lived with. Nina aims to help other single-parents so that they don’t have to feel so alone and that accepting themselves and their situation is vital to their livelihood.

TEDx Talks. (2015). The Real Effects of Single Parent Households. [Video File]. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpTefcuwbsk&t=20s

This Ted Talk gives insight to the harsh reality of being a child in a single parent household. Stephanie Gonzalez, a sixteen year old lives only with her mother and brother. Having no father figure, she expresses the emotional and social toll it took on her. Gonzalez explains how single parents can be busy with work and attempting to provide for the family. Negating the children’s emotional needs. Going further into detail on how much responsibility older children must undertake to help with the families needs. This gives a deeper understanding on how youth perceive living in a single parent home; also giving critical knowledge of his this can affect them emotionally.

Thriving as a Single Parent. (2018). [Video File]. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhUHKDg2CBw&t=565s

In this video Robert Besson talked about how important it is to help single families in a community. Some communities he talked about were churches and single parent groups. This video is relevant to single parent families because Robert explained the tools that helped him as a single father get through the hard times. He talked about how he brings laughter into his home by playing games and being silly with his children. He also explains how he would find fifteen minutes out of his day to go to his room before dinner where he had the chance to lay down. Robert would take some deep breaths and talk to his higher power.This helped him recharge and gave him the ability to go on with his day with the energy that he needed. As a human service worker it is important to create a brace space. It is also important to let single parents know that they are loved, strong, not alone and that they are seen.

Thriving as a Single Parent cont’d:

Robert Beeson talked about his own experiences as a single parent. He explained when life got tough he brought laughter into his house by playing with his children. Beeson found games that brought them excitement and enjoyment in the home. What helped Robert was taking 15 minutes out of his day to find a quiet area for relaxation. He found this recharged his body and felt as if he received the energy back he was missing. We need to let single parents know they are not alone; and that they are loved and seen. It is important to help single parents find a community for support. Some examples could be church or local groups (single parent meetings for example). It is important create a brave space for single parents.

Statistics

Families, Households and Marital Status Statistics. Statistics Canada, Government of Canada, 21 Oct. 2022, https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/families_households_and_marital_status.

Jeudy, L. (2022, January 12). Number of single parent families in Canada 2021. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/443342/single-parent-families-in-canada/

These webpages were used to depict the upward trend of single families in Canada. Providing clear imagery for our website. Analyzing this bar graph and geographic visual, families may feel more comfortable knowing that being a single parent is far more common than they may believe. This is a skill one can use as a servicer worker, providing imagery to assist the users understanding of a topic. A single family accessing this section could gain a deeper insight to statistical information for Canada’s separation and divorce rates.

Organizations

Anderson, N. (n.d.). Grants for single mothers in Canada [2022 update]. Money Strategies, Motivation, and Prosperity For Single Mothers. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://singlemomprosperity.com/grants-for-single-mothers-in-canada/

This resource maintained by Nina Anderson serves as a hub and support centre for single mothers. She touches base on everything from budgeting templates to self care. Anderson is a single mother herself and her unique experience of single parenthood is echoed through this resource centre. This will prove to be valuable to single mothers who may need a versatile community based support. Parents are able to explore in depth financial grants as well as career success and so much more. What makes this resource insightful is the lens of actual experience versus formal organizations. This could create more of an emotional connection to mothers who are struggling themselves.

Canada Child Benefit. Who Can Apply – Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Government of Canada, 13 June 2022, https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-before-you-apply.html.

The Canada Child Benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). A tax free monthly payment made to eligible families to help the cost of raising a child alone. In terms of supports for single families, this is the staple benefit single parents need to look at immediately. This can alleviate some costs for the family. CCB is the most popular benefit most lone Canadian families receive, however it is still crucial to list it here to ensure everyone who is eligible is aware of its existence. Financial stress is a major problem for most single parents, especially when you are caring for a child without a secondary income. This could make the difference in a families financial situation.

One Parent. (2020). Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://oneparent.org/programs/

One Parent Organization provides a multitude of resources for single families. Providing information on federal programs families may be eligible for. They also organize shelter, food, clothing, counselling, and personal development activities to those who need it. In addition, they connect with workshops for single parents to attend, this ranges from academic tutoring to organized sports. This could be an extremely effective resource for single families as it could alleviate stress or provide healthy activities to promote good mental/physical health.

Parent Support Line. Parent Resource Center. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://parentresource.ca/parent-support-line/

This webpage provides a free, confidential support line open from Monday-Friday 9am-4pm. The focus is child development, child behavior and parenting in general. Alternatively, they can be reached via email is speaking on the phone is not an option or preference. This can be another critical outreach tool for single parents who may not have access to services or have a lack of resources. Having many avenues of assistance can be very beneficial to parents who need assistance, especially on their own. As we discussed in our groups, having access to healthy and helpful tools to reference back on make all the difference in how much support an individual receives. This support line can answer most questions single parents may have regarding how to care for their family. They can ask questions in confidence and in a judgement free environment.

Single Parent Employment Initiative. Province of British Columbia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance/employment-planning/spei

This provincial service is delivered through WorkBC. Single parents relying on income or disability assistance can apply here for types of job training. This includes: Early Childhood education, administration, medical services or construction and trades. Additionally this service provides workplace preparation courses such as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. Or they can be eligible for General Education Development (GED). This step may make the difference between securing a job or being unemployed. WorkBC is a tremendous resource single parents can utilize.

References