Secure parental employment reduces the incidence of poverty, is associated with higher family income and greater access to private health insurance. One measure of secure parental employment is the percentage of children whose resident parent or parents were employed full time during a given year.
The report "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being: 2011" has current data about "Secure Parental Employment", some of which are shown below.
In 2009, 83% of children living in families maintained by two married parents had at least one parent who worked year round, full time.
In contrast, only 54% of children living in families maintained by a single father and 44% of children living in families maintained by a single mother had a parent who worked year round, full time.
In 2009, 44% of children living in families maintained by two married parents who were living below the poverty line had at least one parent working year round, full time, compared with 88% of children living at or above the poverty line.
Talk to your pregnant daughter about these statistics. If she plans to be a single mother, what type of job will she be able to keep right now? Will she be able to have a full-time, year-round job? Would an adoption plan be of benefit to both her child and herself?
You may find it helpful to read the chapters “Should she make an adoption plan?” in our book “How To Survive Your Teen’s Pregnancy“.
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