Here is a comprehensive source of vital information on single parent families in contemporary society. This book analyzes literature and empirical research concerning single parent families and explores issues and challenges they face. Contributing authors from many fields and perspectives examine a broad range of subjects relating to families in which one person is primarily responsible for parenting. The only state-of-the-art compendium on the topic of single parent families available today, the book synthesizes empirical, theoretical, and contemporary literature about the diversity, myths, and realities of single parent families in western countries. Each chapter contains a demographic overview, definitions, a literature review, and implications for practice, research, education, and social policy. Theoretical and conceptual perspectives related to parenting and wider families are included. An analysis, synthesis, and commentary on single parent families concludes the volume. Themes highlighted throughout the book include socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of single parent families, cultural and ethnic features, and legal and ethical components. Some chapter topics include: single parenthood following divorce single parenthood following death of a spouse never married teen mothers and fathers female-headed homeless families adoptions by single parents noncustodial mothers and fathers grandparents as primary parents single parents of children with disabilities Single Parent Families contains additional resources useful for family professionals: an annotated bibliography, a video/filmography, and a national community resource list. The book is intended for a multidisciplinary audience, including sociologists, psychologists, health care professionals, social workers, therapists, and other researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and educators. An ideal primary or reference text for undergraduate and graduate level programs, the book can also serve as a tool for staff development and continuing education in service agencies.

A groundbreaking collection of writings on the growing phenomenon of single-parent families in the United States, and how it impacts society as a whole. Focus on Single-Parent Families: Past, Present, and Future brings together in one volume a range of cutting-edge research articles and essays on what has become the most dynamic change in family structure in U.S. history. It is the only resource to make the most insightful and important work being done on the single-parent family phenomena accessible to general readers. Focus on Single-Parent Families helps readers go beyond the stereotypes and look closely at the complexity of families with one parent and consider their place in society. It encompasses the wide variety of households with a single parent—a family structure that promises to continue to grow and diversify. Throughout, the book gauges the impact of the increasing number of single-parent families on the nation as a whole, particularly in regard to policies concerning family welfare, children's services and health care, schools, and other essential social institutions.

Dowd (law, U. of Florida) argues that the justifications for stigmatizing single-parent families are founded on myths used to rationalize harshly punitive social policies that hit children hardest. She says that many two-parent families in fact function as single-caregiving environments anyway, that the two kind of families have some unique and some common problems, that the failure or success of a family has little to do with its form, and that single-parent children often grow up with more admirable traits than their more conventional contemporaries. She looks hard at how the laws and other policies lay extra burdens on families, and recommends reforms. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. Single parents face a triple bind of inadequate resources, employment, and policies, which in combination further complicate their lives. This book - multi-disciplinary and comparative in design - shows evidence from over 40 countries, along with detailed case studies of Sweden, Iceland, Scotland, and the UK. It covers aspects of well-being that include poverty, good quality jobs, the middle class, wealth, health, children’s development and performance in school, and reflects on social justice. Leading international scholars challenge our current understanding of what works and draw policy lessons on how to improve the well-being of single parents and their children.

First published in 1998. In August 1996 Congress passed welfare reform legislation designed to "end welfare as we know it." The people most affected by this radical transformation of the public assistance system are families headed by single parents. The authors states that unfortunately, misinformation regarding single parent families is widespread. Too often public policy, such as the 1996 welfare reform, has been based on stereotypes and misperceptions rather than facts. The primary objective was to show how the official measures of poverty underestimate the extent of material hardship in single parent families. The facts, as developed in this book, show that for most single parent families income from employment is not sufficient to support a decent standard of living

First published in 1984. This is the first book in the mental health field to examine the complex phenomenon of the single-parent family from a systems perspective and to offer a clinical approach based on that expanded perspective.

This volume is based on papers presented at a conference of social policy experts that looked at the growth in lone-parent families, the problems that have emerged, and their policy implications. Chapter 1 is an "Overview" (Duskin). Three chapters look at demographic trends over time and over the life-cycle; they are: "Demographic Aspects of the Growing Number of Lone-Parent Families" (Ermisch); "Lone Parent Families and Their Economic Problems: Transitory or Persistent?" (Duncan, Rodgers); and "Analysis of the Dynamics of Lone Parenthood: Socio-Economic Influences on Entry and Exit Rates" (Ermisch et al.). Two chapters explore relative financial responsibilities: "Lone Parent Families: Family Law and Income Transfers" (Maclean) and "Child Support and Public Policy" (Garfinkel, Wong). Three chapters examine barriers limiting the access of the custodial parent to the labor market and adequate earnings: "Obstacles and Opportunities for Lone Parents as Breadwinners in Great Britain" (Joshi); "Labor Force Participation and Earnings of Lone Parents: A Swedish Case Study Including Comparisons with Germany" (Gustafsson); and "Child Care Policies in Comparative Perspective: An Introductory Discussion" (Ergas). The final three chapters concern the role of public income maintenance: "Valuing the United States Income Support System for Lone Mothers" (Ellwood); "Lone Mothers, Social Assistance, and Work Incentives: The Evidence in France" (Ray); and "Support for Lone Parents in Norway" (Askevold). (YLB)