Helping Hands for Single Moms

Helping Hands for Single Moms (HHFSM) assists low-income single mom families while the mom pursues a college degree and financial independence.  

We choose to invest our resources and time in single mom college students because outcomes matter. 

At the end of the day, we wanted to see our investment result in long-term change.  We serve single moms who are putting “sweat equity” into their future.   These women are making incredible sacrifices as they work part-time, attend school full time, and manage their families “all the time.”  The women we serve are achieving financial independence for their families as they graduate and obtain livable wage jobs.   These moms are also modeling success for their children and increasing the odds that they will follow mom into post-secondary education and financial independence rather than into poverty.

Over the past 12 years:

• HHFSM has assisted over 300 single mom college student families
• Full scholarship clients have a 79% graduation rate
• 82% of HHFSM graduates have procured livable wage jobs – many in the healthcare workforce –   with an average career starting salary of  $45,766 with benefits
• HHFSM has launched two nursing programs at Glendale and Mesa Community College
• Established three city-wide Single Moms Network clubs

 

A Single Mom Family Needs More Than a Scholarship:

Though traditional college scholarship programs are sufficient for the typical college student, the single mom college student needs more.   She has a family to care for as she attends college.  To facilitate academic success, HHFSM provides each family with $3,340 in financial aid that is leveraged by practical in-kind services that are provided by community partners.  These services include:  medical and dental care for the moms (5 dentists), computer tech services, laptops (as needed basis),carpet cleaning, professional counseling, financial management training, legal counsel, mentoring, tutoring, carpet cleaning, tickets to sporting events and family shows, and holiday gifts for the children.  A key in-kind service provided by Helping Hands is no-cost auto repair.  Each family receives a AAA towing membership, funds for auto parts, and free labor on repairs provided by NARPRO.   Since 2007, HHFSM and NARPRO have teamed up for over $130,000 in auto repair services.

A single Mom College Student Needs a Community:

An important component in the success of our program is the Single Moms Network.  Although peer to peer interactions are a key predictor of success in college, campus social life is not designed for the single mom college student.  To address the unique socialization needs of this group, HHFSM operates 3 Valley-wide Single Moms Networks. The Networks provide a monthly opportunity for single mom college students to enjoy a meal and an opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships.   

Outcomes that are Measurable:

HHFSM closely monitors the academic progress through the following means:  1) the semi-annual Academic Review that demonstrates college credits earned (with grades) from previous semester and registration for classes in subsequent semester; 2) we attend graduations.   To monitor postgraduate success in the workforce, we collect the Alumna Survey which informs of the moms employment, income, benefits and feedback from the mom concerning our program.  Success is defined by a single mom family that has left poverty and is now financially independent.

HHFSM was developed from a pilot project initiated in 2001 and continued as a collaborative research project with ASU Partnership for Community Development (an academic unit of the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University) in 2005.  Over the years, we have patiently and meticulously developed our award winning program by listening to the moms we serve.  We understand the unique challenges faced by the single mom college community.

Thank you for your interest in reading about our mission and organization.  If you choose to invest your charitable donation in Helping Hands for Single Moms, your contribution will be highly leveraged by the efforts of the single moms who are leading their children out of poverty.