Women and the Economy

As we fall deeper into a recession, we are beginning to hear the stories of unemployment and layoffs. The group that is disproportionately hit by this news (as always) are those at the bottom of the economic ladder already. Rising fuel and food costs hit families very hard. A group that knows this all too well are single mothers trying to raise their children alone. Amidst this rather gloomy backdrop are some exciting programs to help single moms that could be replicated elsewhere. Climb Wyoming combines counseling with job training in a myriad of areas often not traditionally open to women. People whose dealt hand has never been too good are getting a second chance at building a fulfilling life for themselves and their children. A more established program in Kentucky, Women in Construction, prepares low-income women with skills to compete for jobs in building construction, plumbing, highway construction, etc. This program was part of our Solutions for America initiative in the 2002-5 that looked at ways to prepare families for success. Despite these efforts, it is still an uphill battle to get women the skills and the supports they need to participate in the economy and support their children. Our goal here is for every child to have a secure, loving home environment. We can make great inroads in that with programs like these and quality parenting programs that give their mothers the skills and self-esteem they need to be better workers and better mothers.