The Single Mom Foundation (SMF) is excited to announce a new partnership with Net Nanny.  Net Nanny is another great resource for single moms. Often times when speaking with a single mom about starting college or a training program they fear becoming a student won’t allow them enough time with their children.  Research has revealed quite the opposite.  But subscribing to Net Nanny will allow a single mom student or a working single mom more confidence while at home or away.  With Net Nanny you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you are protecting your children with the best internet safety tools available. Net Nanny can block not only pornography, but hate sites, questionable chat rooms and other dangers of the Internet. You can configure Net Nanny to block online game and gambling sites, and even make it so your children can only install and play computer games with parental ratings that you deem appropriate. Net Nanny even offers a simple, easy to use set-up assistant to help parents determine what online activities (Web sites, chat, gaming and social networks) are appropriate based on your family member’s age.

For those of you interested in going to school or receiving training to enter the workforce, SMF has created an innovative Education Resource website (www.singlemomfoundation.org).  It was developed to make education more accessible to single moms in Utah.  The Foundation has formed partnerships with applied technology colleges, two and four-year colleges and universities as well as with community based, and state agencies, that provide programs and services for single moms.

If you are a single mom thinking about going to school to complete a GED, start or finish a degree, the Single Mom Foundation in Utah is the best place for you to begin.  On the Education Resource website (www.singlemomfoundation.org) you will find information about how to choose a career (by completing 6 free self-assessments), how to select the best school for your program and how to pay for school.  Visiting the website will also connect you to school specific programs and resources, such as child care programs, developmental education (for math and English), student health centers and scholarship information. 

With the click of a mouse you will be able to access community resources from the ‘Resources for Single Moms’ tab.  Spend time with this page and learn about the Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).  It’s an amazing matching savings program.  For every dollar an eligible saver puts away it will be matched by $3.  The savings can be used for tuition, a down payment on a first time home or to start a small business!  A link for student health insurance is available as well as a link to a health clinic designed specifically for individuals without insurance.  Synergy is a solution-focused, inspiring and motivating free magazine for single moms; you’ll want to pick one up!  Each month they focus on education, self-esteem, finances, parenting and empowerment.