New Beginnings for Single Mothers

New Beginnings for Single Mothers

Abstract

New Beginnings for Single Mothers is a program to help empower and educate women who have been stay at home moms and suddenly find themselves the sole provider of their family. This paper will discuss the program and the many things offered to help these women get themselves, families, and careers on track. Fresh Start for Single Mothers will be a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves.

In today's society, single parenting has sadly become the "norm" rather than the minority. The difficulty comes when mother's suddenly find themselves the sole provider for their family either due to separation, divorce, death or the incarceration of their significant other. While the state of Vermont does offer some assistance for these women it is often not enough. It is also often difficult to get to since there is no single place for these women to go to receive all the services they may need. This can be difficult, especially for those with young children who have to get to appointments with young children in tow or find childcare that they may not be able to afford.

New Beginnings for Single Mothers will be a non- profit comprehensive center offering quality services to women seeking self-improvement. Whether starting a career, concerned about financial security, coping with difficult family relationships, or simply seeking opportunities for personal growth, New Beginnings for Single Mothers will be there to support single mothers through their journey.

New Beginnings for Single Mothers will include:

• Counseling Services

• Career Services

• Self-Esteem Services

• Mentoring Programs

• Education Services

• Family Law Support Services

This paper is written like a manual as if the program already exists, beginning with a Mission statement and continuing on to describe each program that is offered. This program is based on similar existing programs in Daytona Beach and Arizona, but is tailored to the needs of women in Rutland County.

To evaluate the success of the program, data will be collected from clients during the six month and one year follow up with the Counselors, then again at five years. If 80% of the clients have completed their education or met their career goals, are financially stable, are either single or in a healthy relationship, then the program will be considered successful.

Further evaluation of the program will consist of comparisons of data from a control and experimental group. The experimental group will consist of women who have participated in the New Beginnings Program while the control group will consist of women with similar dynamics who have not participated in the program. If the comparison shows that the women in the experimental group have met their education and/or career goals, are financially stable, and are either single or in a healthy relationship, at a greater rate than those in the control group, then the program will be considered a success.

New Beginnings For Single Mothers

A program for displaced homemakers in Rutland County

Mission Statement

New Beginnings for Single Mother's is dedicated to helping women help themselves. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping empower women through the collaborated services of the Department of Economic Services, the Department of Labor, the Rutland County Housing Coalition, Vermont Legal Aid, and Vermont Adult Learning.

At New Beginnings we understand how difficult it can be to begin a career after years of taking care of the home and children. We believe every woman has it within herself to make the necessary changes to become self-sufficient. We believe that if we provide the tools and skills that are needed then women will make the changes they desire for themselves and for their children.

Table of Context

Criteria for Program Admission---------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Orientation