Emphasize a shared responsibility for children. Regardless of where children live, they need the economic and emotional support of both their parents. Governmental policy should help ensure these outcomes. Help single parents identify and build upon their strengths. Many of the strengths and skills found in strong single-parent families are consistent with general family strengths research.
Educators can provide single parents with materials and programs about successful single parents.
For example, single parents can be asked to identify the strengths in their family and compared with what other single parents have reported in research. Identification of strengths similar to others who are doing well builds confidence that they can make it. After identifying their strengths, educators can help them identify strategies to build on those strengths. Help single parents develop personal management and parenting skills. Helpful personal management skills include time, money, and stress management and goal setting.