Forming single-parent families

Description

Forming single-parent families involves establishing a household led by one adult responsible for child-rearing, often as a response to divorce, separation, death, or personal choice. This strategy addresses challenges such as parental absence, economic hardship, and social stigma by providing stable caregiving, securing financial support, and accessing community resources. Its practical intent is to ensure children’s well-being and continuity of care, while empowering single parents to manage family responsibilities effectively.

Implementation

In 1994, the traditional two-parent family with children is less typical within the ECE region than a decade ago and the number of single-parent families, divorced or raising children born out of wedlock, as well as cohabiting couples and/or parents is on the rise. The share of married couples with children of all households declined during 1960-1988 from 36 to 22% in Sweden and from 38 to 28% in the UK. The share of single-parent families as a proportion of all family households is as high as 23% in the USA (1988) and 20% in Denmark to under 10% in southern Europe.