Help calls from single parents up by over 100%

THE number of single parent families seeking help from the One Family support group increased by over 100% last year.

In its annual report, launched yesterday, the group said one-parent families are still struggling for financial and social support because of the lack of a holistic approach by Government.

The organisation recorded a 107% increase in the number of single parent families who accessed their services in 2004. It urged the Government to introduce a more holistic family policy and claimed 2004 was particularly difficult for families due to the so-called ‘Savage 16’ cuts announced in the 2003 Budget. Figures show one parent families are three-and-a-half times more likely to live in poverty than the general population.

One Family director Karen Kiernan said it was imperative that the various Government departments work together, particularly in relation to income supports for one-parent families, and also to ensure parents who return to work are better off than if they did not.

“There was a review of income supports by the Department of Social and Family Affairs this year and they need to bring in the other departments on that,” she said, referencing the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Ms Kiernan said the Government needs to focus on key issues such as childcare, poverty and low-income levels which will require interdepartmental working and co-operation. She said there was growing evidence of community creches now asking for commercial rates due to a lack of financial supports.

Ms Kiernan said there was still “stereotyping” of one- parent families and that this can have an effect on crisis pregnancies, including people deciding to terminate their pregnancy.

The report also shows the continuing expansion of the group’s client base, a growth attributed to people contacting One Family to ask about legal issues and immigration.

The number of contacts increased to 5,284, and 76% of contacts were made by women. Most queries fielded by One Family related to legal issues relating to guardianship, divorce, separation, birth registration, and social welfare issues.

Within the number of contacts made to One Family, the organisation catered for about 1,800 children whose parents accessed services.

One Family called for more investment in early childhood education, especially among low income families.

The report also showed a significant increase in the number of women contacting the counselling service and childcare service. One Family recruited a full-time counselling co-ordinator for the first time last year.