Strategies and Resources for Single Parents

Strategies to Help Reduce Stress

• Reach out to family and friends. Learning to ask for help can make life a lot easier. That way, you don’t have to do everything on your own. Often, family and friends are happy to assist with caring for your child while you go to school or providing transportation.
• YUP! Community Forums. Once you create a YUP! account, these forums are also a great place to connect with other young parents across the country, talk about your experiences, and learn from one another.
• Learn how to manage your money. Money management is important for making sure you have enough to fulfill basic needs such as food and clothing. You can begin by creating a budget to keep track of your income and expenses, opening a savings account at a bank, and purchasing gently used items instead of buying them new. Our money management section can offer more tips.
• Learn how to manage your time. Time management can help reduce stress by freeing up time to complete important tasks and allowing more time with your child. Try getting organized with a calendar, phone reminders, or daily to-do lists. You can also try creating a routine with your child as she or he gets older. For example, scheduled times for meals and bedtime can let your child know what to expect and can let you complete other activities or tasks when you’re not spending time together. Our time management content can offer more tips.
• Find childcare you can trust. If you work or go to school, see if you can make a schedule with family or close friends to minimize the need for paid childcare. If no one is available to help, there may be financial assistance programs that can help make childcare more affordable. (Learn whether your state offers these assistance programs here). You can begin your search for reliable childcare by asking other parents for recommendations and visiting the childcare facility in person.
• Join a support group. Parenting support groups are great for connecting with other parents going through similar experiences. These groups can provide a space where you can share your feelings and learn from other parents’ successes and challenges. Your local community or health center might offer support groups or information on where to find them.
• Take care of yourself. Practicing self-care can help you reduce stress and keep up a positive attitude. Go for a walk, catch up on a television show, take a nap or a bath, or try other activities that you know make you feel good. For additional tips, visit our Self-Care topic.

Helpful Resources

• Office of Child Support Enforcement: If you would like financial assistance from the other parent to support the needs of your child, there are child support services that can help you make a legal plan. These services can be different in every state.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): If you need temporary financial assistance, TANF is a federal program that can help. Learn more at your local TANF office.
• Food assistance: If you need financial assistance for purchasing food, there are a few federal programs that can help. For instance, the Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) program offers assistance to mothers and their children up to 5 years old. Another program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which offers food assistance to eligible low-income families.
• Counseling services: Counseling can be a helpful way to talk through what you are feeling, including concerns about being a single parent. Most health insurance plans cover counseling. To find counseling resources, talk to your doctor or inquire with a health center near you.