When Johnnie Mae Lewis, a mother of 11 who lives in rural Arkansas, was widowed in 1987, she faced the biggest challenge of her life. She had never worked before, and found herself the sole support of her family. Johnnie Mae now takes college courses and helps obtain volunteers for a Save the Children school reading and other Web of Support programs. MAG grew out of the death of her oldest son, Edward, then 16, who was shot and killed by a gang member.
Young people have a lot to say and are part of the solution.
And, remind your children how much you love them, always. Unlike many mothers in developing countries, the majority of American mothers do not have extended families or communities that are readily available to help care for, teach, nurture, and mentor their children. As a result, one of the biggest challenges U.S. mothers face, particularly those who are poor or heading up households, is finding reliable after school care for their children. These figures cannot capture the challenges poor mothers face in caring for their children and seeking to provide them with health care, a good education, and even in some cases, sufficient nutritious food. Quality, accessible after school care is a key to helping poor mothers, including teen mothers, and their children succeed.