Programs
Parent Advocacy
"The most consequential social trend of our time is the dramatic increase in the number of children growing up in father-absent families. In 1960, this number stood at less than 10 million. Today it's 24 million. This means that tonight, one out of every three children in America will go to bed in a home absent their father. And it's not just that these kids are going to bed without their fathers tonight, 40 percent of children who don't live with their fathers haven't seen their father during the past year. And one-half have never set foot in their father's home.
Child Abuse. Researchers in Michigan determined that "49 percent of all child abuse cases are committed by single mothers."
Source: Joan Ditson and Sharon Shay, "A Study of Child Abuse in Lansing, Michigan," Child Abuse and Neglect, 8 (1984).
According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America. --Source: National Center for Fathering, Fathering in America Poll, January, 1999.
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An estimated 24.7 million children (36.3%) live absent their biological father. --Source: National Fatherhood Initiative, Father Facts, (3rd Edition): 5.
Children who were part of the "post war generation" could expect to grow up with two biological parents who were married to each other. Eighty percent did. Today, only about 50% of children will spend their entire childhood in an intact family. --Source: David Poponoe, American Family Decline, 1960-1990: A Review and Appraisal Journal of Marriage and Family 55 (August 1993).
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With the increasing number of premarital births and a continuing high divorce rate, the proportion of children living with just one parent rose from 9 percent in 1960 to 28 percent in 1996. Currently, 57.7 percent of all black children, 31.8 percent of all Hispanic children, and 20.9 percent of all white children are living in single-parent homes. --Source: Saluter, Arlen F. Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March 1994., US Bureau of the Census, Current Population Report. p28-484. Washington, DC: GPO, 1996. US Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States 1997, Washington, DC: GPO, 1997.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states, "Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse" --Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Health Statistics. Survey on Child Health. Washington, DC, 1993.
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Children growing up in single-parent households are at a significantly increased risk for drug abuse as teenagers. --Source: Denton, Rhonda E. and Charlene M. Kampfe. "The relationship Between Family Variables and Adolescent Substance Abuse: A literature Review." Adolescence 114 (1994): 475-495.
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Children who live apart from their fathers are 4.3 times more likely to smoke cigarettes as teenagers than children growing up with their fathers in the home. --Source: Stanton, Warren R., Tian P.S. Oci and Phil A. Silva. "Sociodemographic characteristics of Adolescent Smokers." The International Journal of the Addictions 7 (1994): 913-925.
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Children in single-parent families are two to three times as likely as children in two-parent families to have emotional and behavioral problems. --Source: U.S. Department of Health
Clearly it is evident nationally and locally the negative impact of an absent parent has on children in general. The Chief Executive director of DWD has been affected (directly/indirectly) by this syndrome. Ms. Armstrong directly experienced the emotional pain, financial strain, and personal sacrifices made by her mother. It was painful to be the byproduct of a single parent who found it challenging to provide lunch money, new clothes, choosing Over-Time Pay versus attending PTA meetings and Award services, Working multiple jobs and going to college at night, Completing homework and monitoring and teaching needed Character and Social Development in your child. Single Parenting adds pressures commonly shared by two individuals. These pressures can cause strains to a single parent who delay personal time, ability to pursue their own interest and time to “take care of self” into having silent frustrations which can result in a dysfunctional family and destructive behavior from both parent and children. In order to stop this destructive behavior there is a need to stop putting a bandage on these situations and teach individuals how to deal with issues by the following programs/services;
DwD “The Struggle is Over” Parenting Pathway
Workshops/Seminars
* Education Assessments to include; GED, GRE, SAT & CLEP test preparation, homework assistance, baby sitting services for class attendance.
* Wealth Management
* Emotional Wellness ( self-esteem and anger management)
* The “Art of Forgiving” workshop
* The “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” workshop. Your environment is a reflection of your spiritual condition.
* Workshop ( includes interviewing skills, suits for interviews, career networking, job fairs, career counseling and Career Day)
* Mother/Daughter Banquet