Unexpected Financial Crisis Faced by Multiracial Single Parents in Canada

Running Head: WORKING WITH FAMILIES 1
Working with families
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WORKING WITH FAMILIES 2
Introduction
Facts and statistics about multiracial families in Canada
This research is about the unexpected financial crisis faced by a multiracial Single
parent in Canada. The mother has three years old adopted child and a household income of
about $80000 to $90000.In Canada, Income acts as a measure of economic and social
wellbeing. Other measures of economic well-being such as wealth are also fundamental.
Wealth can be defined as the number of assets a family has minus the debts. Lancaster (2009
p.36) states that being a lone multiracial parent is challenging. Trying to provide your child
with all the necessities, love, support, guidance and encouragement is always challenging
despite having a good income. When a child is born, a single parent is normally trapped
between offering care to the child and having a good income at the same time. According to
Steinberg & Hall (2010 p.108) most Lone parents prefer to earn an income rather than
offering care to their children. This is what makes them give their children for adoption when
they are still young. On the other hand research has shown that most multiracial lone parents
do not believe in themselves. Others do not easily accept the role of being a parent due to
various circumstances. This makes them take their children to foster care centres despite them
having a good income. However Twine (2010 p.56) notes that unexpected financial crisis
may arise making a lone parent to give his child for adoption despite having a good income.
Statisticians in Canada have shown that most of the children in foster care centres are from
multiracial families. Further studies have shown that most of the children given up for
adoption are from Single parents. One of the major reasons as to why biological parents give
up their children for adoption is high poverty levels. There are a few cases where parents give
up their children for adoption for some other reasons.one of those reasons being unexpected
financial crisis.

WORKING WITH FAMILIES 3
Irregular working schedule is one major cause of unexpected financial crisis in
multiracial families. According to Lancaster (2009 p.278) states that Unpredictable and
irregular working schedules make it difficult for one to care for his children.17 percent of
people working in Canada are subjected to irregular working schedules. According to
Steinberg & Hall (2010 p. 47) Parents with unpredictable working schedules may not have
stable incomes. They also have a difficult time meeting the needs of the child as well as
meeting the different schedules and appointments. On the other hand, there are jobs that
cannot sustain a family. The income one is paid might not be enough to cater for housing,
clothing, transportation, and health coverage. It is very expensive to meet the expenses of a
child as well. Twine (2010 p.136) stated that workers of color are thought to be paid lower
wages because of lower education levels. Another cause of the unexpected financial crisis is
the household debt. The high cost of raising a child combined with inadequate income makes
lone parents borrow money for maintenance. According to Twine (2010 p.154) Debt acts as
an outcome of pressure that parents face and can as well be the cause of stress to a parent
especially when the interests grows big. Debt makes it difficult for multiracial parents to cater
for their children. Employment discrimination is another factor that causes unexpected
financial crisis to parents. Steinberg & Hall (2010 p.209) states that parents with care giving
responsibilities are mostly not preferred for employment compared to parents without
caregiving responsibilities. Thus many lone parents prefer giving up their children for
adoption. On the other hand, it is always difficult for Lone mothers to access cheap child care
services. The available child care services are costly. Thus parents prefer taking their children
for adoption.
Information and challenges facing multiracial Single mothers because of the
unexpected financial crisis