Inspired by Single Mom Defined Member Yvette Shipman, the babysitting cooperatives, funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation, connect moms to each other to live out the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The co-ops strengthen support systems, offer certifications and provide mothers temporary relief to address personal needs, such as sleep, medical treatment, or alone time.

Parenting comes at a cost. Just how much money exactly? $235,000! That’s how much a USDA government report found that a middle-income family spent over 17 years. The Coin Club provides resources to help single mothers identify money mistakes, eliminate debt, repair credit, generate wealth, and reach their financial goals.

Single Mom Defined celebrates fathers at an annual co-parenting cookout. The event aims to build a village that centers children and their needs and heal fractured co-parenting relationships. Whether connecting to a counselor, a co-parent or financial and emotional resources at the cookout, single parents are reminded that they don’t have to raise children all alone.

Single mothers are busy! So the Self-Care Squad makes sure they don’t pour from an empty cup. Whether it’s taking part in self-love challenges, joining the walking club, or participating in collective counseling sessions, Single Mom Defined designs self-care strategies to fit into the tight schedules of single moms. If moms become overwhelmed, they can call Single Mom Defined’s 1-800 number to hear the monthly motivational message.

What’s for dinner? That’s probably the most asked question of kids across the country. Sometimes moms don’t know the answer, don’t have the money to go grocery shopping, or have the energy to make a meal after a long week at work. Moms Night Off gives moms a night off from cooking and delivers dinner and self-care items to hundreds of families. The no contact, porch deliveries are similar to DoorDash, but at no cost to moms, thanks to a partnership with the Women and Girls Foundation, Roxanne’s Catering and 412 Food Rescue. After dinner, moms participate in virtual self-care activities, like meditation, yoga and dance classes. Recently, Moms Night Off received media coverage from The Today Show.

Single Mom Defined’s Cherrell Fulton and Caprice Scott formed a subgroup to better meet the needs of mothers raising children alone. Solo moms, while considered single mothers, face unique challenges, since their children’s fathers are no longer in their lives for various reasons, such as death, incarceration or abandonment. Solo moms host monthly meetings to connect with others facing the same circumstances and share resources and services.