Causes: Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations, Emergency Assistance, Human Services, Single Parent Agencies

Mission: Single Mothers Outreach empowers single parents and their children by providing hope, support, and resources so that families can become self-sustaining and thrive.

Results: For the period 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2015: SMO provided one-on-one case management services to 285 members. Of this total number, 158 were new members and 127 were existing. During the case management process, impoverished members were provided with counseling, education on community resources, hundreds of referrals, and crisis intervention when needed. Also, SMO facilitated several therapy groups for members and their children. These groups focused on various topics including self-esteem, communication, and boundaries, among others. Proprietary evidence-based practice and protocol curriculum was developed by caseworkers for continued use within the agency. One-to-one case management was provided on multiple levels including face-to-face visits, telephone calls, and email. Members were educated on and/or reminded of the availability of counseling services during intake, during all contacts, and via SMO's support group. Parents were encouraged to contact caseworkers with any needs, questions or concerns. SMO launched individual and group therapy programs. Caseworkers provided individual counseling to 23 members. Caseworkers met individually with members whose mental health needs were most grave. Weekly sessions were one hour long and were provided in both English and Spanish, depending on the parent's need. The framework under which therapy was provided was solution-focused since therapy was provided for 8 weeks at a time. SMO extended therapy when member needs required additional support. Although almost all single parents present stressful circumstances, parents in immediate crisis were given priority for therapy. For example, a 21-year-old woman was forced to provide foster care for her newborn niece who was removed from the custody of her mother at birth by authorities because she was born addicted to drugs. With the support of therapy, she was able to cope with the responsibility and provide for her niece emotionally, physically, and financially, and eventually she found an appropriate adoptive home for the child. Each case management session addressed mental health risk factors while validating parents and providing them with referrals to help them to meet their needs. Case management addressed the mental health of members through counseling, education on community resources, and even long term planning. Case management topics that most frequently reflected member needs include therapy (group and individual) both for members and their children, finances, education, employment, food and housing security, clothing, legal assistance, childcare, domestic violence, and medical care. For new members, referrals were provided as follows:Childcare: 58Clothing: 166Education: 59 Finances: 85Food: 69Programs: 166Medical: 26Housing: 58 Jobs: 81Legal: 32

Target demographics: single parent families

Direct beneficiaries per year: 308 parents and their children

Geographic areas served: Santa Clarita

Programs: individual and group therapy, financial literacy training, workforce development, housing referrals