SINGLE VINE CREATOR OF NOBLE SINGLES OUTREACH, INC. 

501c3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Established 2013 with Single Parent Families in Mind  

 

Defined 

The term "single-parent families" refers to households with children under the age of 18 led by a parent who is either widowed, divorced and not remarried, or has never been married.

The predominant configuration of single-parent families involves a mother and her biological children. In 2002, approximately 16.5 million, or 23 percent, of all children lived in single-mother households. Within this category, 48 percent were African American children, 16 percent were non-Hispanic white children, 13 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander children, and 25 percent were children of Hispanic origin. However, these statistics may not fully capture household dynamics, as 11 percent of all children resided in homes where their mother shared a residence with an adult to whom she was not married. This breakdown included 14 percent of white children, 6 percent of African American children, 11 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander children, and 12 percent of Hispanic children.

The prevalence of households led by single fathers saw a notable increase after the early 1980s, reflecting societal shifts in attitudes towards the role of fathers in child rearing. In 1970, a mere 1 percent of children lived with a single father, while by 2002, approximately 5 percent of children under 18 lived with their single fathers. Single fathers, however, are more likely to be divorced than never married. Moreover, they are more prone than single mothers to cohabit with an adult to whom they are not married. For instance, 33 percent of Caucasian children lived with fathers who were unmarried but cohabiting, compared to rates of 29 percent for African American children, 30 percent for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 46 percent for children of Hispanic origin. It is evident that single-parent families exhibit considerable diversity, and the number and characteristics of such families vary significantly across different ethnic and racial groups.

The Statistics                                                                                                             

One out of every two children in the United States will live in a single-parent family at some time before they reach age 18. According the United States Census Bureau, in 2002 about 20 million children lived in a household with only their mother or their father. This is more than one-fourth of all children in the United States.

Since 1950, the number of one-parent families has increased substantially. In 1970, about 11 percent of children lived in single-parent families. During the 1970s, divorce became much more common, and the number of families headed by one parent increased rapidly. The number peaked in the 1980s and then declined slightly in the 1990s. By 1996, 31 percent of children lived in single-parent families. In 2002, the number was 28 percent. Many other children have lived in single-parent families for a time before their biological parent remarried, when they moved into a two-parent family with one biological parent and one step parent.

The reasons for single-parent families have also changed. In the mid-twentieth century, most single-parent families came about because of the death of a spouse. In the 1970s and 1980s, most single-parent families were the result of divorce. In the early 2000s, more and more single parents have never married. Many of these single parents live with an adult partner, sometimes even the unmarried father of their child. These families are counted by the Census Bureau as single-parent families, although two adults are present. Still other families are counted as single-parent families if the parents are married, but one is away for an extended period, for example, on military deployment.

References by Encyclopedia Of Children's Health