Single Moms Power of 10 groups discusses issues facing them today

The Power of 10 group: Single Moms met to discuss issues facing single women parents on a daily basis. Some of the issues most pressing are isolation within the community, transportation needs for the family, financial needs, babysitting, time to themselves and finding balance in their lives. Several face these situations, but complicating that is the fact that many women are the only parent to their chidren. And yet with all of their worries and concerns, a room full of women wanted to help others. They went down the list, identified the top issues they were facing as single mothers and participated in brainstorming how to help single moms. Next meeting: Mid-January 2011.

Submitted by Kelly Laux

Dads Unlimited Ideas

On Wednesday, January 20th the Power of 10 group Fathers of Daughters met with Wendy Schwalbe from Parent – Connection Family Services to discuss the needs in the community, current programs and future opportunities.

Parent Connection – Family Services currently offers free programs for dads in the Oshkosh area called “Dads Unlimited.” The program offers baby basics classes, a dads & kids play group, home visitations, family wellness workshops, and a teen parent program.

Wendy shared future ideas of hosting “daddy & daughter dates” and launching an awareness campaign before Father’s Day that included an essay contest focused on how children see their fathers as heroes.

The fathers were very pleased to learn more about the programs offered and see a lot of potential to grow this into something BIG. Keith, a Fathers of Daughters group participant, stated “I am so proud to be part of this initiative.”

The next step is to fine tune their ideas for the programs in order to create social change in the lives of fathers of daughters.

To see the program's already available through "Dads Unlimited" visit the Family Services website at www.familyservicesnew.org.

*Submitted by: Mindie Boynton, Women's Fund Communications Committee*