Gone Solo: 5 Support Groups and Resources for Solo Parents

It’s often been said that being a parent is both the most rewarding and challenging thing one will ever do in his lifetime. Being a single parent makes things more tricky because the overwhelming feelings of anxiety and confusion that are the hallmarks of raising a child are not shared with a co-parent.

Also, unlike traditional parenting, being a solo parent has a lot of nuances weaved into circumstances. While a widow/er, a wife of an overseas Filipino (who sees her spouse every couple of months), a never married, and a once married solo parent primarily have no co-parent, the circumstances behind their situations are totally different.

So how does a solo parent find a support group or resource that is specific to his/her circumstance? We’ve grouped the available resources for you to find the support group you need and be around people who can truly understand.

FOR WIDOWS/WIDOWERS
A widow/widower, like Mom we Love Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, goes through a different kind of grief as a solo parent; a feeling of loss which may not be shared with a solo parent who is one by separation, or break up of a relationship.

1. Healing Circles
Agnes Prieto founded this grief support group for those undergoing transition due to loss of someone.  Healing Circles is composed of people who have gone through a similar situation and have lost someone close to them. Some members are therapists and others are trained in grief therapy.

Healing Circles is also known to use non-traditional and innovative methods like dancing as a healing tool.

Healing Circles Grief Recovery Group
Mobile: (+63) 922.822.1512 / (+63) 927.614.2945 / (+63) 917.528.9976
Email: ag_prieto@yahoo.com

Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month at Assumption San Lorenzo St. Agustin room at 5 pm.


2. Grief Share
Grief Share is a seminar-support group started by Cathy Babao-Guballa and her husband, Hector for those mourning the loss of a loved one.

Cathy and her husband Hector lost their son Migi to congenital heart disease when he was four years old. Her need to heal brought her to setting up Migi’sCorner, special play areas in hospitals for children fighting a serious illness or condition. Now, there is a Migi’s Corner in 10 hospitals around Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Grief Share
Email: griefisajourney@gmail.com
Website: http://mourningtojoy.blogspot.com/2006/10/griefshare-ministry.html

[previous|page|next]

 

FOR SOLO PARENTS
Being around other solo parents offers a feeling of security. You can talk freely about the difficulties without being judged and without being asked too many questions.

1. M.A.S.I.P.A.G: Makati Feast Married Individuals & Single Parents Care Group
M.A.S.I.P.A.G was formed for people dealing with the challenges of marital separation or single parenting. The group comes together for weekly discussions so they may learn from and support each other.

According to organizers, Jay San Luis and Regina Garganera, the group has inspirational talks at the Makati Feast. “We ask for thoughts about the inspirational talk of the Makati Feast or we talk about other topics altogether. We aim to have the topic resonate among the attendees – how it relates to their lives and situations - and be cathartic and insightful as possible,” they shared.

The group started with only 10 members and has now grown to 25. Majority of the members are mothers in their early 20s to their mid-60s. “The children of MASIPAG members are just as diverse - from toddlers to young professionals,” added San Luis and Garganera.

Recently, MASIPAG held an activity involving their kids and are now looking into having more child-centered activities in the future.

MASIPAG
Facebook: Makati Feast MASIPAG
Regina Garganera – (+63) 917.824.8281
Jay San Luis – (+63) 917.527.6908

Community is on Thursday evenings at AIM or Sunday mornings at Makati Square)


2. Single Parents Association of the Philippines
This association is based in Angeles City, Pampanga and offers both a lot of information on solo parenting as well as benefits for solo parents.

The website is an empowering one. There is information about livelihood trainings such as massage therapy, whilst offering a network of babysitters within the community who can look after your child.

You have to be a member to avail of the benefits. Application and registration can be done on-line. Documents such as your children’s birth certificates are required.

Single Parents Association of the Philippines
4035-A P.Gomez St.,Brgy.Lourdes Northwest
Angeles City Pampanga 2009 Philippines
Monday- Friday 8:00 Am to 5:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Phone: (+63) 45.323.5225
Email: spap.inc@gmail.com
Website: http://singleparentphilippines.webs.com/apps/blog/

[previous|page|next]

FOR WIVES WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR SPOUSES WORKING OVERSEAS
The National Statistics Office tracks that in 2010, there were more than 2 million Filipino overseas workers (date of departure was within the last 5 years).

While studies on how many are married are scarce, we can assume that a number of overseas Filipinos are working abroad as the breadwinners of their families. Thus, when relationships break down over time and distance, the wife in the Philippines has little or no recourse for her and her children who were left behind.

KINALASAN: Kababaihang Iniwan NA ng LAlaking Sumama SA ibang Nililiyag
When Minerva Seneres formed The OFW Family Club in 2007, she found that a number of members were abandoned by husbands who were working abroad as overseas Filipinos. The women were clamoring for help. They were dealing with abandonment and erratic remittances - some stopped receiving remittances altogether.

Seneres then founded K.I.N.A.L.A.S.A.N. as the advocacy arm of The OFW Family Club. They offer several assistance programs specific to the needs of OFW wives who have been left by their husbands:

• Free legal and welfare assistance
• Livelihood and health programs
• Character development seminars
• Forums
• Pre-employment orientation seminars (for those striving to become OFWs themselves)

K.I.N.A.L.A.S.A.N. OFW Family Club
Unit 101, 1986 Taft Office Center Building
Taft Ave. corner Buendia, Pasay City, Philippines
Phone: (+632) 526.7522 / (+632)526.7515
Mobile: (+632)996.9102 / (+63) 917.804.9947 / (+63) 919.539.8685
Email: moniquemjaramillo@gmail.com / monique_abmp@yahoo.com


Photo from flickr creative commons