Regardless of whether mental and physical health problems among single mothers and their children are functionally a cause or a consequence of economic disadvantage, experts recognize a need for mental health services to improve both economic and family outcomes (Jayakody & Stauffer, 2000 Maldonado & Nieuwenhuis, 2015 Thomson & McLanahan, 2012). As a consequence, the mental and physical health of their children suffers (Jayakody & Stauffer, 2000), and children of single mothers are more likely to engage in risky (e.g., unprotected sex, fighting) and delinquent behavior (Fix & Burkhart, 2015 Kotchick et al., 1999 Waldfogel et al., 2010). Single mothers have elevated rates of mental and physical health problems – or reduced overall well-being (Broussard, 2010 Crosier et al., 2007) and may thus have diminished parental relationship quality and parenting quality (Waldfogel et al., 2010). The primary purpose of the current study was to preliminarily evaluate how the BOND program (that provided holistic services: financial, mental health support, parenting skills, communication skills, and wellness education) for single mothers with adolescent daughters in Baltimore City impacted Black single mother and adolescent daughter well-being and the mother-daughter relationship. The current study included interviews with single mothers and their adolescent daughters who were participating in a program created to improve Black single mother-adolescent daughter relationships – Building Our Nation’s Daughters (BOND). However, while most programing for single mothers focuses exclusively on providing financial resources, these mothers – and their children – have needs extending beyond those that are financial/economic (Broussard, 2010). Data indicate that single mothers are most concerned about housing, daycare, and other financial costs (Griffin & Elliot, 2018). In many urban areas, a majority of children live in single caregiver (typically single mother) households Black families are the most likely to be classified as single mother households (U.S. For example, the program could be modified to address the needs of single father households and single caregiver households with adolescent boys. BOND could be used as a template for similarly situated families. The evaluated program improved mother and daughter well-being in part through skills building, but importantly through improvement in the mother-daughter relationship, as well. Results suggest programs like BOND have the capacity to improve mood and strengthen the mother-daughter relationship through development of coping skills and conflict resolution skills. Mother and daughter well-being improved based both on self-report and report of the other member of the dyad (i.e., mother for daughter, daughter for mother). Mothers and daughters also verbally provided numeric outcome ratings specific to select outcomes. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed to allow for coding and analysis of qualitative data. Interviews were conducted online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual interviews were conducted with five mothers and five daughters who had participated in BOND. The program is Building Our Nation’s Daughters (BOND). The current study evaluated a program for Black single mothers with adolescent daughters that emphasized the mother-daughter relationship and coping skills to promote well-being. Although single mothers report being most concerned about financial costs, the needs of these mothers and their children are more extensive.
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