Kristina Valdez, Executive Director of Along the Way, discussed the non-profit serving single mothers in Bucks and Montgomery counties with after-hours childcare and other services to allow them to work and pursue their education. She described the child-care crisis in the US – child care costs can take up 21% of a two-parent monthly income, for single mothers it’s 63%. 41% of children born in PA are born to single mothers, 2 in 3 female headed households are what she described these parents as ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. A single mother without child care cannot work, and if she can’t work, then she can’t get out of poverty.
Lack of child care can keep a woman from job choices and education, preventing her from getting ahead, she described their programs – free reliable, trustworthy childcare– over 8,000 hours – from vetted, paid care providers, and career/job counseling. Along the Way is funded through grants and donations, as well as fund-raisers including a Golf Outing Sept 20 in Harleysville at Lederach-top 10 course to play in PA. For information visit alongtheway.org
The Child Care Crisis for Single Mothers with Along the Way