"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
- Lin Yü-tang
Most of you know me (Skye) as a Lifemom, but I am also single mommy to a three year old. I've been on both sides of the fence, and I've faced many different scenerios & emotions with both. If you are expecting and making a choice between parenting and placing your child for adoption, I'm going to tell you something many adoption web sites geared at potential birthmothers will not: Raising your child as a single parent is possible, there is real help out there!
Maybe your reading this page because you are a lifemom, but also a single mom too. I hope you will find some useful links, and please take advantage of the help that is out there. If you've found a great resource that has helped you and your family, let me know and I'll put it up!
Be sure to read the Parenting Resources page too!
Single Parenting:
www.singlerose.com: A person favorite of mine! Info about Child Support, Chronic Illness, Children’s Books, Colleges and Scholarships, Divorce Recovery, Health, Emergency and Crisis Assistance, Romance, Single Parenting, Stress, Women in Business, and Kids’ Stuff -- they even have an Angel's Program to help out single parents with christmas gifts for their children!
www.singlemomz.com: For advice, issues, and information.
www.insanityhouse.com: Insanity House is raising the collective voice of the Single Parent Community for Social, Economic, and Political change. Our vision is to empower our strong, creative population, and to unite the voice of single parent families in the United States. Through a unified voice and an empowered community, we will effectively challenge current legislation and change political policy that directly affects our family system.
http://singleparents.about.com: Tons of great information for single parents on about every topic imaginable.
www.makinglemonade.com: More great info for single parents.
Government Services:
www.hud.gov/renting/index.cfm:
Department of Housing and Urban Development guide to finding a house or apartment
http://www.govbenefits.gov/:
Very Low to Moderate Income Rural Housing Loans
www.govbenefits.gov Helps you determine for what benefits you are eligible
http://singleparents.about.com/cs/governmenthelp/
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/:
Federal office of child support enforcement
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm:
Apply for financial aid for school
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/:
Information about food stamps
http://nccic.org/:
National childcare information center
http://www2.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb/:
Head Start Bureau
Places to look for locally: YMCA (discount or free memberships for you and your child(ren), local Job and Family services (Food card, Emergency Help, Medical Card Daycare Assistance, Cash Assistance), local churches (food, clothings, cash assistance, babysitting help more), CPC (baby formula, diapers, equipment, clothing, maternity clothes, Single Parent's support groups (emotional support, swap baby items), Housing Authority (rent assistance, utility assistance), HEAP/PIPP (utility assistance).
Parenting Info:
http://www.yppo.com/teenparenting.htm
http://www.pregnancycenters.org/
http://www.childsupport.com/links/youngparents.asp
http://www.oneyoungparent.com/resources.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/naturalfamilies/parenting_resources_.html
http://www.lifecall.org/shelters.html
Housing:
Co-Abode: Single Mom house sharing. Please visit this website if you are a single mother in need of a more comfortable living situation for yourself and your children.
http://www.hud.gov/renting/index.cfm: Department of Housing and Urban Development guide to finding a house or apartment
http://www.govbenefits.gov/index.jsp: Very Low to Moderate Income Rural Housing Loans
Shared Family Care:
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~aiarc/projects/sfcfact.htm
For Fathers:
Birth Control:
