Single Mothers in Canada: An Analysis

Abstract

This paper explores the social context of single mothers in Canada. Areas of concern in the literature include role strain (both at home and at work), poverty, employment, and the inaccessibility of child care. Past interventions for single mothers at the governmental, organizational, and individual levels are discussed. These include strategies to reduce the numbers of single-parent families living below the poverty line, to ensure greater flexibility for single mothers in the workforce, and to improve the overall self-image of women through further education, assertiveness training, and confidence building. Finally, the authors make recommendations for policy changes and future interventions, proposing a strategy which combines elements of the Employment Resource Program, an innovative model used in a mid-size Ontario city, and the former Vancouver Opportunities program. The model employs self-help techniques, career counselling and job training, child care and financial assistance.