University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

Download PDF
Publication #FAR0088

 

Nonresident Mothers1

Donna Davis2

Figure 1. 
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

We read and hear stories with some frequency about “deadbeat dads” or those nonresident fathers who fail to make child support payments. The issue has prompted numerous studies and legislative action as well. But have you ever heard of a “deadbeat mom"? Not likely or rarely. This is a growing problem that has remained largely under the radar.

In a recent study conducted by Urban Institute, in collaboration with Child Trends, researchers reported that in 2002, 4.7 million children did not live with their mothers. This was a million more children than just 5 years earlier. These children face different challenges than those without fathers.

Drawing from the 2002 National Survey of America’s families, the researchers found that nonresident mothers are more likely to be poor than nonresident fathers. According to the research, 11% of nonresident fathers were poor compared to 27 percent of nonresident mothers. Without economic resources, these women are also less likely to pay child support than fathers.

Another striking difference among these mothers and fathers was the outcomes for their children. The report explains that when the father is nonresident, 90% of the time they are with the mother. However, when mothers are nonresident, their fathers are often unavailable as well. And those children who live with non-parental caregivers such as grandparents are also likely to experience relatively high rates of poverty. Concerns for the welfare of these children will no doubt draw greater attention from researchers and policy makers addressing the needs of children and nonresidential parents who face many struggles.

Listening, learning and living together, it’s the science of life. “Family Album” is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our website at http://familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/458.mp3

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/458.wav

References

Golden, O., Loprest, P., and Zedlewski, S (2006). “Parents and Children Facing a World of Risk ‘Next Steps toward a Working Families’ Agenda’ Roundtable Report.” Low-Income Working Families, Paper 5. The Urban Institute. Retrieved June 20, 2006 from http://www.urban.org/center/anf/nsaf.cfm

National Council on Family Relations: http://www.ncfr.org/about_us/n_news_announcements.asp?newsid=1195 [delinked 28 August 2012].

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR0088, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 458. Published on EDIS March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.