In late 2000, The Dieringer Research Group designed a research project on behalf of the S & R Pieper Family Foundation, regarding the needs of single parent families. The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals, living at or below a poverty existence, feel about the services that are available and whether or not the available services are meeting their needs.

In order to meet the objectives of the study, three separate, but inter-related, studies were conducted:

Social Service Agencies - Mail Survey Background

A mail questionnaire was distributed to the Executive Directors of 778 social service agencies in Milwaukee County. The mailing list included 747 organizations classified as a social service agency by Dun & Bradstreet Information Services (D&B) representing the SIC codes of: 8322 - Individual and Family Services (N=276), 8331 - Job Training and Related Services (N=36), 8351 - Child Day Care Services (N=357), and 8399 - Social Services not elsewhere classified (N=78). This list was supplemented by additional United Way agencies (N=21) and W-2 offices (N=10) not previously included in the D&B list.¹ A qualified organization was defined as a social service organization providing services directly to individuals in Milwaukee County.

After the initial deadline for mail returns, the Executive Director of all organizations (except child day care organizations) was called to: qualify the organization as a social service agency directly serving individuals, confirm receipt of the questionnaire (a second questionnaire was sent if requested), and determine their plans to participate.

In the end, 117 organizations returned surveys, of which 102² returned usable, completed surveys. This is a response rate of 16%. This response rate is lower than anticipated, however, several factors may have affected the response rate. First of all, the study was conducted at the end of 2000/beginning of 2001, which is a busy time for social service organizations. Second, some respondents complained that they have received many questionnaires of this type and did not have the time to participate. Finally, through conversations with social service executives, it was confirmed that funding for many social service agencies has become outcome-based, resulting in pressures for this information and even mistrust regarding the organizations/companies seeking this information.

Study Findings

In Phase I and II of this study, single mothers of low income families said they needed assistance in broad areas basic to any existence: money, employment, food, clothing, health care benefits, child care and affordable housing. They view these needs as interconnected, in that it takes a good job and money to afford housing, food/clothing, transportation, day care and receive health care benefits.

The circumstances causing single mothers to apply for help, according to respondents, were lack of money (32%), lack of child support (18%), lack of employment (16%) lack of education (16%), and lack of child care (12%). It is as if respondents are saying that the lack of employment, money, child care, and little education equate to the need for assistance.

Respondents were able to articulate the specific services they needed to help them become more self-sufficient, in particular, higher education, quality job training, quality jobs, affordable and quality child care, after-school programs and transportation -- services not always accessible for low income families.

When asked to rate some possible solutions for helping people get off assistance programs, most of the 400 respondents in the telephone survey agreed³ that affordable day care (94%), job training (91%), apprentice programs (89%), centralized services for single mothers located in their neighborhood (89%), affordable health care (88%), education on how to handle money (84%), and birth control education (76%) would help them become more independent.

Study results also revealed a lack of awareness among single mothers, regarding the services available to assist them, with almost 20% who could not name a service/program to assist single mothers in need. Also, many (39%) felt it was difficult to access services and thought it was a "hassle" to apply.

Phase III of this study was specifically conducted to inventory the services available to low-income single families in Milwaukee County. From this study, it appears that there are some gaps between what single mothers need to thrive and what services are available.⁴

The services most often provided through the responding agencies were services for children/youth (47%), child care/day care (35%), and food/clothing assistance (29%). Few responding agencies provided the services single mothers said they needed to get off assistance programs, such as higher education and quality job training (job training at a level to help women obtain new, better paying jobs versus "dead-end," "minimum wage," "no health benefits" type jobs).

In terms of financial assistance, 84% of the single mothers in the telephone study agreed education on handling money was a solution to getting off assistance and 26% said "money to live on" was needed, yet only 20% of the social service agencies surveyed provided financial counseling and/or assistance. Eighteen percent of single mothers said lack of child support payments caused them to apply for help while only 1% of the responding social service agencies provided legal assistance to ensure payment of child support.

Regarding education, 16% of single mothers responded that a lack of education caused them to apply for help. According to the Inventory of Social Service Agencies Study, only 9% of the responding agencies offered GED classes, technical, and/or college education assistance. Job training, mentioned both as a need and a solution to gain financial independence, was only offered by 19% of the responding agencies.

In regards to child care, there are 335 day care centers in Milwaukee County, based on D&B Information Services information. Yet single mothers repeatedly mentioned the need for affordable and quality day care services. It is apparent that child care is available, but not always affordable nor of acceptable quality for respondents.

Focusing on specific areas of Milwaukee County, the responding social service agencies were asked to indicate which of the 17 Neighborhood Strategic Planning Areas⁵ they served. In general, the gaps between the services needed versus offered were consistent throughout the 17 areas.

Single mothers have very basic needs for survival, including financial assistance, employment, food, clothing, health care benefits, and affordable housing. Quality child care and quality job training are also important to helping them gain independence. Although programs do exist to help them in these basic areas, based on the responding organizations, the incidence of agencies providing these services is low throughout the entire Milwaukee County.

In addition, single mothers are not always aware of where to go for help or what programs are available. Increased awareness of other sources of assistance, other than those through state or county programs, is important so that quality programs and services are accessible and available to everyone. This may also reduce the burden on state and county programs who are carrying the major load.

More attention should be focused on the issue of single mothers securing their future success, not just their day-to-day existence. Based on this research, it appears single mothers want increased educational opportunities, quality job training, quality jobs, and quality child care (affordable); they want to move beyond satisfying their immediate needs for food, clothing, and housing. They stressed the path to lasting financial independence is not secured by just "any job." Low income single mothers understand financial independence is directly related to a higher level of education and training that will help them succeed at higher level jobs.

Single mothers claimed a satisfying and challenging job (versus a dead-end, minimum wage job without health insurance) would improve their self-esteem and confidence, improve their family life ("be a positive role model for my kids") and allow for quality time with their family (rather than working three jobs to provide a bare existence). This self-supporting attitude may also trickle down to future generations, communicating that self-empowerment is the key to opportunities and success in life.

Companion Documentation Includes: