This document discusses how a single mother's education is linked to the success of her children based on a 14-year study. The study found that a mother's education level was more important than financial factors. Children of single mothers who completed college did as well or better than children from two-parent homes in terms of education, occupation, and income attainment. The document then profiles Helping Hands for Single Moms, a nonprofit that assists single mothers in completing college degrees through services like tuition assistance and childcare. Program Director Jacinda Dawson notes that obtaining an education allows single mothers to achieve financial independence and provide better lives for their children through access to opportunities like better schools and neighborhoods.

1. Single Moms’ Education Linked to Success of their Children
By: Kristine Jimenez
How will I make ends meet? What will happen if I don’t? Is it selfish of me to try to
improve myself? Will things ever get better? How will this affect my child(ren)? These are just a
few of the questions that run through a single mom’s mind almost daily. From the second her
eyes open until the moment they close, she mulls over her obligations, trying to decide how to
best execute them. Being a provider, protector and nurturer becomes second nature to her yet it
never feels quite right. Free time is no longer free and luxuries are labeled a sacrifice. But the
prospect of a better future for her and her children keeps her motivated. She always hopes her
child(ren) will never have to experience the hardships she faced and wishes there was some way
she could ensure this. Research supports that there is one piece of paper that could be the remedy
that a single mother longs for, increasing the likelihood of her child(ren)’s success.
A 14-year study performed by Brescia University College and Western University in
Canada compared the overall long-term success of children from single mom homes with that of
two-parent homes. The results were that the mother’s education was the most important factor
along with family stability. The fact that the single mothers were more financially disadvantaged
than the two-parent families was of little significance in terms of their child’s success. There
were three measures of success used in the study: education, occupation and income. The
children of single moms did equally as well as those from two-parent families and sometimes
even better. People who grew up in a stable single mom household secured better jobs than those
who grew up in stable two-family homes and had a lower divorce rate.

2. There are a number of reasons why some women become single parents but the reasons
most commonly attributed to their financial struggle are absentee fathers and a lack of higher
education. Of the nearly ten million single mothers in America, less than twenty percent have
completed college. And many of the mothers who do finish college ordinarily take between six
to fifteen years to do so because of the challenges they face. Christina Ramirez, a 31 year old
single mother of two revealed, “I loved taking college courses but I had to stop going because I
couldn’t afford it anymore. I get frustrated because I really can’t afford to do much.” Christina
works two part time jobs to stay afloat. She dropped out of college over a decade ago due to
limited funds and time constraints, but still hopes to return one day.
Acquiring a degree can be tough for anyone. Education expenses, a rigorous workload,
internships, and everything else that comes along with this endeavor is no easy feat. Studies
show that less than fifty percent of Americans actually finish college. Tack on the toils of the
traditional undergrad to the many obligations of a single mother and it seems inconceivable.
Despite the challenges of this difficult undertaking, there are single mothers who manage to
cross the finish line. Financial assistance and support are vital to the success of a single mother
and her children. There are a number of non-profit organizations that cater specifically to a single
mother’s needs: financial assistance, housing, food, childcare, health insurance, job training, etc.
but there aren’t many that have dedicated themselves to assisting single mothers with
completing college.
In 2001, a minister by the name of Chris Coffman discovered this void in the non-profit
sector. While driving around his local community in Phoenix, Arizona, trying to figure out how
he could better serve its residents, he came across a boy approximately five years of age, walking
alone. He immediately became disconcerted. With the assistance of another resident they

3. approached the child and accompanied him back to his dilapidated home. Mr. Coffman soon
learned that the boy was left in the care of his ten year old sister while their mother slept. This
was when he decided the need he wanted to focus on and Helping Hands for Single Moms was
born.
“Helping Hands for Single Moms is a community-based nonprofit that assists
impoverished single mom families while the moms are pursuing a college education and
financial independence” is the organization’s mission statement. With the help of many
volunteers at its inception they have grown into a small nonprofit that’s made a big impact on the
lives of nearly 500 local single moms. Jacinda Dawson, Program Director at Helping Hands for
Single Moms, proudly shared that, “Helping Hands has their record number of graduates this
spring 2015 semester. We have 23 women graduating!” Jacinda also stated, “There are plans to
expand to New Mexico and Dallas within the next five years.” As a former recipient herself, she
is able to validate the program. The agency has close to 70 supporters and partners that help
single mothers make their dreams of upward mobility a reality. A few of the program benefits
are tuition assistance, emergency funds, tech assistance, limited healthcare, legal counsel, and a
single moms network. The network’s official name is: “Single Mom College Community.” The
members gather monthly to support and encourage one another.
According to Single Mother Guide, single motherhood is becoming the new norm.
Almost half of the children born in the U.S. are born to single mothers and nearly two-thirds are
under the age of 30. The median income for single mothers is $26,000 and more than half live in
extreme poverty, unable to afford childcare. While some might be eligible for college grants and
scholarships, many simply can’t afford the expenses connected with obtaining a degree. Without

4. a higher level of education their career prospects are limited and their children become at a
higher risk of future disappointment.
During his 2015 State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama highlighted his
“bold new plan” to lower the cost of community college to zero. He stated that by the end of this
decade 2 in 3 jobs will require a higher education. As President Obama emphasized, student debt
can be a deterrent for many when it comes to returning to college and striving for a better, higher
paying job. This not only affects the individuals but our country as a whole because there are
many job vacancies that will go unfilled. The president’s attempt to tackle this grave problem is
one that single mothers and their children will benefit from, removing one of their many barriers
to financial freedom. “If community college becomes free, then I will absolutely return. I would
like to get a degree in nursing so I can move out of my mom’s house and be able to help her
instead of her helping us,” Karen Jackson, mother of one discloses on her way to her part time
job. She further stated that she has been unable to acquire a full time job even though she has
been actively searching for over a year.
Helping Hands for Single Moms has been working diligently for 14 years to tackle the
very same problem President Obama has brought to the forefront. Single mothers in Phoenix,
Arizona who are eligible for the Helping Hands for Single Moms financial assistance are proving
that with a helping hand they can secure better employment and increase their child(ren)’s
chances of long-term success. Although they are only able to serve local residents at this time,
Helping Hands for Single Moms has created a model for others to emulate and their expansion is
right around the corner. Nearly seventy-five percent of their full scholarship clients have
graduated or are currently enrolled in college while maintaining a 3.2 cumulative average GPA.

5. Many of the graduates have acquired positions with starting salaries of close to $45,000 allowing
them to live more comfortably than when they entered the program.
The 2010 U.S. Census revealed that college graduates typically earn between thirty six to
seventy eight percent more than someone without a degree. A program catering specifically to a
demographic that can benefit from financial assistance is a noble operation but it’s doubly
effective when its usefulness will trickle down to future generations. The long-term effects of a
parent’s education can break cycles and contribute immensely to society. A single mother’s self-
esteem rises when she achieves financial freedom and no longer feels dependent on the kindness
of others and the government to maintain her household. “I was raised by a single mother and I
think that maybe there’s some truth to the belief that it’s a cycle. My mom didn’t finish school
and I think if she did maybe I wouldn’t have been raised in an area where I was surrounded by
other young single moms,” Christina Ramirez grew up in East New York, Brooklyn and her
mother has worked in numerous retail stores since Christina was a child. She has one older
brother who moved out of the house when he was 27 years old and now shares an apartment in
the Bronx with two of his friends. Christina’s brother Pedro is a barber who also struggles to
make ends meet.
Providing for oneself can be a heavy load to bear. Being responsible for a family can be
overwhelming. The fact remains that many single mothers live below poverty level and must
juggle their duties while trying to figure out how to advance. Unfortunately, many single moms
do not have the resources or the time to research and apply for scholarships that they may or may
not qualify for. At times it can appear as though the odds are stacked against them, which in turn
affects their children. There are helpful organizations such as Single Mother Help that act as
resource locators. To start with, they have a list of the top ten organizations that help mothers.

6. They also have information and advice on various topics ranging from how to improve your
chances of getting financial assistance to good parenting tips. In order to obtain curated content,
mothers must create a profile. Single Mother Help is storehouse of knowledge for single
mothers. The next step would be to seek local help. Short-term assistance can lead to life altering
effects on entire families and future generations. Helping Hands for Single Moms is one of the
few places a single mother can turn to that is heavily invested in providing them with hope for
the future.
Jacinda Dawson explained how Helping Hands for Single Moms differs from other non-
profits that provide financial assistance to single mothers. “There are a very limited amount of
organizations that specifically assist single mom college students. The main difference is we do
not just provide financial assistance. We provide services such as AAA for their vehicle, auto
care, and dental services. Some organizations do offer assistance with things like electric bills,
but this is just a temporary fix. Education is a permanent fix.” The organization is best suited for
those who are determined to complete their college education. Applicants must meet a specific
criteria which includes already being registered in school and having a cumulative GPA of at
least 2.8. Jacinda added that one of the most challenging aspects of her position is having to
discharge clients who fall below the GPA requirement. Helping Hands for Single Moms does
everything within its power to help their clients succeed but the clients must adhere to the
original criteria for acceptance into the program. Completing a degree is a very cumbersome
experience. But it is one that can be extremely rewarding.
Jacinda shared a little about the personal achievement she is most proud of, “I am most
proud of my education. By earning a degree as a single mom, I can really relate to my clients.”
She learned about Helping Hands for Single Moms through her college and aside from the huge

7. impact it has had on her life she has had the pleasure of witnessing the effect the program has
had on the lives of others. “The most significant impact I see is that once financially
independent, their whole lives can change. They no longer reside in low-income housing. Their
children can often attend better schools and live in nicer neighborhoods. So much can happen
once the mom’s self-esteem raises from obtaining a college degree.” One sheet of paper can hold
a lot weight and be just the ticket a single mom needs to attain a better life.

8. Interview Summary
1. Jacinda Dawson: Program Director at Helping Hands for Single Moms. Jacinda spoke
with me about how she first learned about the organization, what made her interested in
joining their team and her positive and negative experiences as an employee. She
explained what makes the organization different, their selection process and a typical day
at work for her.
2. Christina Ramirez: A 31 year old single mother of two children who resides in East
New York, Brooklyn. She has an 11 year old son Dante and 2 year old daughter Candice.
She works two part time jobs. Both of her children are from the same father. They have
had a very tumultuous relationship and she has spent a grand majority of it as a single
parent. She aspires to finish school but she has very limited time and money. She
explained her struggle to get by on low pay and the assistance of her family members.
She wishes that an organization like Helping Hands for Single Moms was in the local
area so that she could even consider going back to school. She fears that her children will
have to struggle the way she has especially because they live in an unsafe area.
3. Karen Jackson: A 25 year old single mother of a 5 year old daughter who resides in
Bushwick, Brooklyn. She went to LaGuardia Community College for one semester and
dropped out after completing 2 courses with low grades. She blames her poor college
experience on depression and stress. She and her daughter Chantel live with her mother
in a 2 bedroom apartment. She was working a full time job for a few years but was laid-
off due to cutbacks. She now works part time and is searching for another full time job or
an additional part time job. She wants to return to college but is unable to do so at this
time. She said it’s not just tuition it’s also textbooks plus childcare expenses etc.