Week of Valentine’s Day a Time to Celebrate for Many, But for Single Parents Every Day Can Include Challenges
February 15, 2018 For more information, contact:
Mesha Davis, CEO
602-532-2800 | 414-719-1179
NEWS RELEASE
Week of Valentine’s Day a Time to Celebrate for Many,
But for Single Parents Every Day Can Include Challenges
1 in 4 Arizona Women are Single Parents; Large Percentage Do Not Receive Child Support
PHOENIX — This week many Valley residents celebrated Valentine’s Day – but for many single parents it’s just another day of the week with its own day-to-day challenges. In fact, in Arizona, more than 25 percent of Arizona mothers are single parents.
Additionally, 77 percent of those single mothers eligible for child support do not receive it. According to Arizona Foundation for Women’s 2016 report, more than 50 percent of single-mother families in Arizona are receiving public assistance compared to only 16 percent of single-father families.
“Growing up with in a single parent home, I know firsthand that there’s no denying that surviving as a single mother is difficult,” said Arizona Foundation for Women CEO Mesha Davis. “This is especially true in Arizona where there is a higher percentage of single mothers and fewer women receiving child support than there is nationwide. We want to recognize the difficulties of these women and continue to help raise their quality of life to help them achieve financial independence, safety and optimal health.”
Part of Arizona Foundation for Women’s programming includes funding organizations that support these women, such as Florence Crittenton of Arizona, Helping Hands for Single Moms, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Live & Learn and Maggie’s Place of Arizona through grants.
The Arizona Psychological Association reports that single parent families face several pressures traditional nuclear families do not — such as visitation and custody problems, negative effects of the parental breakups on children's school performance and social relations and less opportunity for parents and children to spend time together.
The week of Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves of how important it is for women to focus on their overall health and safety and to support those who are not a part of a traditional family situation, or who may be fighting poverty while raising children.
Arizona Foundation for Women staff members are available for interviews on issues affecting single mothers. To set up an interview, contact Jamie Killin at (480) 710-5270.
Arizona Foundation for Women believes in advancing the safety, health and economic empowerment, to allow women independence and stability.
Arizona Foundation for Women not only conducts research, but also helps women gain control of their health by providing grants to health organizations that serve women and their families. The Foundation also hosts SHE Talks!™, a series of free presentations and discussions to increase awareness of and educate about various important women’s issues.
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About Arizona Foundation for Women
Arizona Foundation for Women’s (AFW) mission is to advance the status of Arizona’s women through research, advocacy and philanthropy to ensure their safety, health and economic independence. We believe SHE Counts!®
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