Useful links 4 Mothers
United States
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
US Department of State Office of Children’s Issues
The State Department’s web portal for children & families. Links to International child abduction & prevention, child support, child exploitation, abuse & neglect, child victims of crime, inter country adoption and other child/family protection issues.
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)
CASA is a national group of volunteers who “speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children in court…In 1990 the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA programs with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse act.” “CASA has a network of more than 50,000 volunteers serving 225.000 abused and neglected children through 900+ local program offices nationwide.” You can volunteer in your area…for FREE.
Wrightslaw Special Education Law & Advocacy
“Offers information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities, for parents, advocates, educators and attorneys.” ***If your child is on an IEP I encourage you to know YOUR RIGHTS*** this web site has a lot of information, take your time. It will help you and your child advocate in your school system if it is needed.
American Bar Association Center on Children & the Law
LINKS TO: Head Start, Health Information, Child Care and much more…
National Child Care Information Services
“NCCIC responds to requests from parents, child care providers and other early education professionals, researchers, policy-makers, national organizations, businesses and the general public. NCCIC provides technical assistance and training to States, Territories and Tribes.”
Head Start–US Department of Health & Human Services
“Head Start serves the child development needs of preschool children (birth through age five) and their low-income families.”
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
“…working to improve the health and well being of women, children and youth, including those with special health care needs.”
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
National Organization of Women (NOW)
US Women Without Borders: ending violence against women & girls worldwide
Visit their web site where you can “shop for change.” You can purchase & help women earn.
UK
National & Local Childcare Information (UK)
government web site providing a directory of information about childcare services throughout england and Scotland.
Information on hostels, housing projects and advice services for single mothers.
Search the terms “lone parent” and you will find hundreds of hits to help parents in the UK
Pregnancy & parenting information for new and expectant parents. Offering fact sheets and advice as well as hundreds of contacts in the UK.
One Parent Families
“A charity promoting Lone Parents welfare and independence.”
National Council for One Parent Families
HELPLINE: 0800 018 5026 (Mon. to Fri. 9:15 am to 5:15 pm) offers an information service for lone parents, other organizations and local authorities.
FREEPHONE: 0800 018 4318 (Mon. to Fri. 10 am to 4 pm)
Gingerbread has now merged with One Parent Families, “to provide better support and a bigger voice to the 1.8 million lone parents and their children throughout England and Whales.”
Parentline Plus: “Because instructions aren’t included”
HELPLINE: 0808 800 2222 (Mon. to Fri. 8am-10pm, Sat. 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun. 10am-3pm)
TEXTPHONE: 0800 783 6783 (Mon. to Fri. 9am-5pm)
“Talking to Parentline Plus you can contact us about anything that is worrying you. We get calls about a range of issues affecting parents and their families from having a new baby, starting a new relationship and disagreements in the family, to issues with teenagers, school, homework, sleep or eating patterns. Our services families come in all shapes in sizes. As well as parents, grandparents, foster carers, stepparents, relatives and friends, all contribute in raising children. Our services are designed to help anyone caring for a child.”
13 Gayfield Square
Edinburgh EH1 3NX
HELPLINE: 0808 801 0323
Telephone: 0131 556 3899
Fax: 0131 557 7899
email: info@opfs.org.uk
“One Parent Families Scotland has been working on behalf of lone parents and their families since 1944. We are a national voluntary organization, registered as a charity. Our members include individual lone parents, various organizations working with lone parents and others who simply want to support the cause of lone parents.”
FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR LONE PARENTS
Inspirational & International
Save the Children (UK) offers support to families who suffer disadvantages and/or discrimination. Contact them for information about day care services and non-center based services working with families in communities throughout the UK. “We fight for children in the UK and around the world who suffer from poverty, diseases, injustice and violence, working with them to find lifelong answers to the problems they face.”
CARE: Defending Dignity, Fighting Poverty
CARE helps fight global poverty and focuses on women, “because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.”
Read and see what one 6 year old did to help…you CAN change the world.
“When Ryan was in grade one he learned from his teacher, Mrs. Prest, that people were dying because they didn’t have clean water to drink. He decided that raising money for wells for people who didn’t have clean water would be a good thing. He worked for four moths to earn his first $70.00…”
Search for “Sheri Rose” and read her story….amazing speaker and worker of love.
What if you feel stuck?
Pick up the phone. It’s an age old concept that is underused these days. Call a local Family shelter as a first step if you are stuck for where to look for help in your area. Sometimes it helps just to have someone hear you, acknowledge your needs and show they care. To find the nearest YWCA visit their web site: YWCA
One of the biggest challenges of single motherhood is to not isolate. Many women feel scared, ashamed or embarrassed. Don’t – there are 14 million women raising children in the United States alone – there is nothing to fear about asking for help.
Online one of the largest forums for help, where you can post questions and get feedback from a larger audience is Circle of Moms. Remember: if you don’t feel safe, you don’t have to use your real name, or your Facebook account.
If you’ve found a place that we need to add to the lists, please fill out the contact form and let us know. Thanks.
“You can’t get very far until you master yourself and your fears. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – you’ll be surprised how many people are there for you.”
Alana G., single mom of 3
“Sometimes I don’t really want to hear what I ‘should’ do – I just want to have a sounding board, and someone who gives a damn about what I’m doing, and how I’m doing – that’s all.”
Michelle P., single mom of 1
“I didn’t want to join a single mom group and find out what a loser I am, and realize I don’t fit in – even with them. Then I went, and found out we’re all working our butts off to raise great kids!”
Angie J., single mom of 2
“I don’t have anyone I can call in the middle of the night to ask for help, so I go to the web sites to get the answers I need. It makes getting ready for the next battle or problem easy to deal with – and I have new friends – bonus!”
Cathy S., single mom of 4
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Disclaimer: Though many of these links can be very useful, seeking professional guidance and help is always advised when it is available to you.
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