Single Parents Group
by Avgi-Dawn Christakis
The Single Parents Group at 4C’s offers single parents help with meeting their monetary, emotional, and physical necessities while finishing their degree or certificate.
It was created in the fall of 2021 by Christina Silva-Simpson, a full-time student, single mom of three, president of the group and soon-to-be employee at the Homeless Prevention Council in Orleans.
Christina Silva-Simpson
“When I first became a student here at CCCC, I was in class with a student who was also a young mom and was struggling with meeting outside of class for a certain assignment,” Silva-Simpson says. “Being a single mom of three myself, I understood her frustration. I had asked my adviser if there were any support groups or groups period on campus for single parents and was told there weren’t. Shortly after, COVID hit, and we were shut down. So, in the fall of 2021, after the stress of isolation and juggling being mom, student, and teacher, I felt as though the need was even greater, and I formed the group.”
Silva-Simpson elaborated on the group and its purpose by answering a series of questions:
Q: How can a parenting support group help single parents?
A: I believe the biggest thing that this group helps with is a feeling of belonging. We share resources, and we talk and just support one another. It’s like we’ve built our own little community within the community where we understand the struggles of a single parent trying to gain a degree.
Q: What do people look for in a parenting group?
A: I believe they look for support and somewhere where they are understood. Sometimes we have stressful days or weeks that have nothing to do with academics, and it’s easier to share with those who have been through it and can maybe offer some advice or a different tactic, another perspective of the situation or even just to vent.
Q; What are the goals of this organization?
A: The goals are to have added support and access to resources both on and off campus to make their journey here at CCCC as smooth as possible.
Q: How do you encourage people to join? How do you break the ice at your meetings? Could you describe a typical meeting?
A: Honestly, most of my members have either been with me from the beginning or have been sent my way by staff on campus, which I am so appreciative of. When a new member joins, we usually start off by welcoming them and introducing ourselves. I will usually share a bit about what we do, and then we get right into whatever that meeting’s topic may be. Some days we just talk about our weekend, and spending time with our kids. Some meetings we talk about how our week went or discuss the resources that were shared via the email group. Everyone is asked how they are doing and can answer as honestly as they would like.
Q: Does the group include fun activities?
A: It does! We just helped host the Spring Fling on campus this past Tuesday, April 26, which was so much fun, and we have also planned to get together with our children to do some rock painting.
Q: Why people join this group?
A: If you’re a single parent who would like to connect with other single parents, and/or would like to know more about the resources available to you, the single parents’ group is the group for you.
Those interested can contact Silva-Simpson at [email protected] for the Zoom link, joining the club, or any questions about the club.
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