Families headed by single mothers experience deep economic disparities in Fargo-Moorhead, where 33% of single mother households live in poverty, compared to 4% of their married counterparts. Post-secondary education offers a path out of poverty for these families; however, single moms face an especially daunting journey to earn a degree, juggling classes, child care, work, and other responsibilities.

Jeremiah Program’s mission is to end the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children two generations at a time. We help families headed by low-income single mothers gain long-term prosperity through career-track college education for moms, quality early childhood education for their children, and holistic support for the whole family. Jeremiah families live on our Fargo campus until moms earn a post-secondary degree, forming a supportive community where both generations can escape the toxic stress associated with poverty and thrive.

Quality early childhood education is critical to launching low-income children on a trajectory out of poverty, but with child care in Cass County costing up to $10,190 per year for one child, access to this essential tool is limited for single mother households. One of the ways Jeremiah Program supports families is by offering high-quality early childhood education for Jeremiah children through our onsite Child Development Center. A CDC co-located with families’ homes reduces the financial and mental burden single mothers face while pursuing a degree while also laying a strong foundation for the next generation.