The social and economic factors that perpetuate cycles of poverty may be complex, but the solution is not—at least in theory. Prevention lies at the beginning and the end of the educational pathway: The younger a child has access to quality early childhood education and the longer she can stay on the pathway, the more likely she is to avoid or overcome generational poverty. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, each level of education past high school results in a 32 percent reduction of the likelihood of a single mother living in poverty.

For many single mothers seeking to disrupt the cycle, however, the reality of attaining post-secondary education for themselves—and quality early childhood education for their children—is far from simple. Juggling classes, homework, childcare, employment, and running a household alone would be overwhelming to many of us; for women who may also be experiencing trauma, abuse, or chronic instability, these barriers can feel impenetrable.

Jeremiah Program helps single mothers and children mitigate these barriers by making available the resources they need to redefine and reframe what is possible.