Results of Intervention for Single Parents - Research Paper Example

Running head: EARLY INTERVENTION SINGLE PARENTS Early intervention for single parents may result in less single parent families living in poverty Customer Name Institute Name INTRODUCTION This is a research based analytical paper aimed at understanding how “Early intervention for single parents may result in less single parent families living in poverty”. A) THE RISING RATE OF CHILD-BIRTH OUT OF WEDLOCK AND FRAGILE FAMILIES: The American society, these times, is facing a new challenge. The rapid rise in the statistics of non-marital childbirth has resulted into a new type of family, called the “Fragile family”. As suggested by the name itself, these fragile families, that include both cohabiting or live-in partners and single mothers, are exposed to harsh economical and financial conditions as compared to their married counterparts. Hence, they have lesser socioeconomic stability. 1) Racial and Ethnic diversification of the fragile families, amongst other contributing factors:- a) The prevalent trends of fragile families show that African Americans and Hispanics have the highest, whereas, Asian Americans have the lowest number of fragile families, whites or all Americans fall in between (Rodgers & Lee, 2007. p. 1-21). 2) Main Challenges faced by the fragile families and some common problems : - a) the main reason, for the socioeconomic instability of these families, is the low income rates of the supporting mother or father of the child. b) They mostly have lower education levels and face issues such as physical, emotional and mental health problems (Kalil & Ryan, 2010. p. 39-61). c) Most single mothers tend to rely upon private resources of income or assistance, such as relatives, family, friends and boyfriends. These support systems are not always dependable. 3) HELPING FRAGILE FAMILIES OVERCOME THEIR HARDSHIPS: - These families are vulnerable to various anti-social activities and it is the ethical and social responsibility of the concern authorities to help them, various recommended measures should be taken such as: a) Community Programs: Various governments funded programs and counseling facilities should be arranged to provide financial and in-kind assistance, these programs help towards developing constructive thinking and higher self-esteem and at the same time lessen economic hardships and inculcate self-reliance. These reform initiatives may also be voluntary-aided. b) Devise Policies to promote self-sufficiency: Policy makers should realize that these families are part and parcel of society and this issue should be dealt with with extreme care and caution. Funds and legal regulations should be provided to alleviate their financial burden. c) Emergency support programs: Services such as urgent financial assistance, child care welfare, food stamps, medical aid and housing facilities should be provided on an emergency basis (Kalil & Ryan, 2010. p. 39-61). Rapid rise in Child Poverty in the American States and the Impact of Welfare Reform, Economics and Demographics and adopting new methods, techniques and approaches: 1) Passage of PRWORA Act of 1996: It is notable that after the passage and implementation of the “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act” of 1996 (PRWORA) the American welfare system has taken a new dimension (Rodgers & Lee, 2007. p. 1-21). The economic viability of the state has considerably improved. a) According to the PROWRA Act, both the parents are responsible for their child’s welfare. b) Various initiatives and measures are taken to reduce teen pregnancies and un-wed births. c) Physically able and fit individuals are supported and provided career opportunities, aid recipients are facilitated with suitable employment, transportation medical and financial benefits (Rodgers & Lee, 2007. p. 1-21). d) Measures taken for the welfare and employment of single mothers of both metro and non-metropolitan origins, to improve their livelihood and reduce their poverty status (Bulanda, 2008. p. 63-87). e) Policies are reviewed, after the PROWRA Act, to address the plight of non-metropolitan single mothers, they were provided with suitable and stable jobs, timely wages, financial assistance, welfare and food stamps. They are provided with opportunities to fulfill their goals of re-marriage, family formation or co-habitation and self sufficiency. Effects of Implementing PROWRA ACT: After the successful implementation of this Act, the outcome has been extremely positive, welfare caseloads of fragile families and poverty rates gradually started declining. The overall ratio of the population, entitled to receive aid for families with dependent children (AFDC), has been reduced from 5.5 percent to 1.8 percent in 2002. The AFDC program has been replaced by TANF (Temporary assistance to needy families) (Rodgers & Lee, 2007. p. 1-21). 2) The impact of state economy upon the rise and fall of child poverty: - Facts and figures prove that economic conditions of a country directly influence the rates of child poverty; rates of poverty, infant mortality, teen pregnancies and non-marital births, single mothers, children living with single parents with or without a high school degree, are lower in wealthier states with higher per capita incomes, taxable income, maximum revenues and lesser unemployment and vice versa. 3) The Impact of the quality and performance of state supported welfare and aid programs, upon child poverty: - Another important indicator of the high and low rates of child poverty is the global quality and efficiency of state level programs and initiatives such as community services and financial assistance and aid programs. States with the most generous, inclusive and effective child support programs and the most generated cash funds have the lowest child poverty rates. 4) The impact of state demographics: - a) States with higher populations of minorities and immigrants have higher poverty rates. b) State containing higher rates of single parents, divorce and teen-pregnancies non-marital child births, poorly educated family heads, suffer from higher poverty rates (Rodgers & Lee, 2007. p. 1-21). Correlations and interdependencies of all the factors and how they reduce child poverty:- Poverty rates and rapidly increasing rates of fragile families can be overcome by: - a) Reducing teen-birth rates and male abandonment. b) Improving the education of low-income parents and child support from absent parents. c) Improving country’s economic and demographic conditions. d) Devising adequate policies and reform procedures and implementing them effectively, such as tactful implementation of PRWORA has proven to be exceptionally fruitful. e) There should be no discrimination based on race, sex or ethnicity, even states with higher minority enrollment must receive equal treatment and reform facilities. f) By providing financial assistance to disadvantaged metro or non- metropolitan single mothers. Specifically, single mothers with non-metropolitan livelihood are prone to adverse conditions such as un-employment, non cohabitation or less family security, lesser wages, lack of transportation and childcare. Reform policies must be formed, after the realization of their total percentage, socioeconomic background and grievances, full time jobs with childcare must be provided (Brown & Lichter, 2004. p. 282-301). Single mothers’ education levels should be improved and their economic self-reliance must be ensured, to reduce the growing percentage of jobless single mothers. Although, poverty does not directly influence their parents and judgment capacity, but their limit setting and child monitoring abilities are sure to grow by providing help (Bulanda, 2008. p. 63-87). g) By providing parental training and guidance to improve self concepts of single parents. In this training method, diversities in factors such as demographic, economic, age, education and livelihood are tested and suggestions based on them are applied. Participants of these training methods manage to enhance their mental skills and capabilities. These skills make them likely to achieve better employment and potential opportunities, ultimately reducing their poverty levels (Malone, 1999. p. 3736). CONCLUSION It can be concluded, that there are various factors that contribute towards the higher rates of non-marital childbirth, single parenting and poverty related problems. Poverty stricken fragile families are an undeniable and permanent fixture of the American society; however, need is that government should embrace this issue and take timely measures and reforms to induce self reliance, self concept and financial independence, amongst the less privileged families. References Brown, B. J., & Lichter, D. T. (2004). Poverty, welfare and the livelihood strategies of nonmetropolitan single mothers. Rural Sociology, 69(2), 282-301. Retrieved from Bulanda, R. E. (2008). Beyond provisions: The relationship between poverty status and parenting among single mothers. Marriage & Family Review, 42(4), 63-87. Retrieved from Kalil, A., & Ryan, R. M. (2010). Mothers economic conditions and sources of support in fragile families. Future of Children, 20(2), 39-61. Retrieved from Malone, V. J. (1999). Self-concept and single parenting. (Parent training). Dissertation Abstracts International : Humanities and Social Sciences, 50(10a), 3736. Retrieved from Rodgers, H. R., & Lee, P. (2007). Child poverty in the American states: The impact of welfare reform, economics and demographics. Policy Studies Journal;, 35(1), 1-21. Retrieved from Read More