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Tips for Single Parenting

Single parenting is not an easy choice to make — it takes great strength and courage! Learn what’s available to you and your baby, and where to find help when you need it.

Explore your housing options
Look for a safe and affordable place to live before you deliver. Consider your child care options in each situation:

• living with your parents or the birthfather’s parents
• living with a friend or relative
• living in a group home for single mothers
• living in low-income public, subsidized housing (though there may be a long waiting list)

Know the father’s rights and responsibilities
Providing financial support for your child is the father’s legal responsibility. Most states (including Oregon) have a child support enforcement agency which will withhold money from his paycheck if he is unwilling to pay.

A birthfather’s financial support record may influence court decisions about custody and visitation rights. In some states, the father’s name is not even put on the birth certificate unless you request it. If he has signed a notarized paternity affidavit, he may have legal rights, including visitation and the right to deny or consent to medical decisions for your child.

Your counselor, an attorney, or your state department of social services representative will provide more details about the birthfather’s rights and responsibilities. You and the father should also discuss your individual rights and responsibilities. A child’s needs are best met when you and the father work together.

Seek government assistance
If you are receiving assistance from the government (such as the Oregon WIC program), you may be eligible for other programs which help with job training, tuition, and child care. Otherwise, you might rely on educational grants and loans while working to cover living expenses and child care.

Single parenting often means altering your goals and plans. But with determination and job training, you can achieve greater security for yourself and your baby.

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Article adapted from “Single Parenting” by Bethany Productions.