Resources for Single Parents

The Office of the Attorney General offers a co-parenting guide called "For Our Children: Learning to Work Together." This video and booklet is designed to help you work effectively with the other parent for the benefit of your child(ren). We encourage you to take a look at the Co-Parenting Guide.

The following state, federal, and national programs and other links all provide useful resources for parents.

State Programs

Programs offered by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services include:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families -- Unemployed Parents (TANF-UP),
• Food Stamps, Medicaid for Families and Children, and
• Medical Need Programs.

In addition to financial aid, the Department of Aging and Disability Services oversees JOBS, a job training and placement program for people seeking work. Additionally, the JOBS program, in conjunction with the Texas Workforce Commission, offers childcare placement assistance for working parents.

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Post Office Box 149030
Austin, Texas 78714-9030
512/438-3011
www.dads.state.tx.us

The Texas Workforce Commission assists with job training and employment searches. It also coordinates childcare referrals in conjunction with the Department of Human Services' JOBS program.

Texas Workforce Commission
101 East 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78778
512/463-2222
www.twc.state.tx.us

The Texas Occupational Information Coordinating Committee provides information and descriptions of job types as well as the skills and education necessary for the jobs.

Texas Occupational Information Coordinating Committee
9001 IH35 North, Suite 103B
Austin, Texas 78753
www.soicc.state.tx.us

Federal Programs

The Department of Health and Human Services administers a wide range of federal programs for families and children. DHHS has regional offices throughout the country that provide access to services.

Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
202/401-9215
www.acf.dhhs.gov

The Children's Defense Fund is a national child advocacy organization dedicated to helping children and their families. Check their Web site for information on a variety of programs, including Head Start, Safe Start and Fair Start.

Children's Defense Fund
25 E. Street, NM
Washington, DC 20001
202/628-8787
www.childrensdefense.org

Other programs offered by the Children's Defense Fund include Head Start, Safe Start and Fair Start. All three programs work to ensure that children grow up in safe homes, schools and neighborhoods.

National Programs

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Parent Information Network provides information to parents and people who work with. The network offers a calendar of events, resource guides, monthly news listings and parenting discussions.

National Parent Information Network
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Children's Research Center
51 Gerty Drive
Champaign, IL 61820-7469
http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu.npin.parklink.html

Related Web sites

Parents Without Partners, Inc. -- Parents Without Partners provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering an environment for support, friendship and the exchange of parenting techniques.

www.parentswithoutpartners.org

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