Like many communities across the nation, Suffolk County has a growing population of single parents in need support and information.

One of the best ways single parents, and others, learn to cope with life’s challenges is by sharing experiences and gaining strength in cooperation with a support network. The Single Parents Resource Network is designed to help single parents through the difficult emotional and practical challenges of single parenthood.

Since I took office in 2004, and throughout my career in public service, I have strongly advocated for tougher child support enforcement laws and strong sanctions against parents who fail to meet their financial obligations to their children. The Suffolk County Department of Social Services Child Support Enforcement Bureau continued to lead New York State in 2001 with its collection of over $105 million in child support. This figure makes Suffolk County the first county outside of New York City to collect more than $100 million in a 12 month period and represents a 8.1 percent increase over the previous year’s collection of $97.8 million..

Suffolk County does not hesitate to use every legal means available to collect child support payments. Those measures include garnishment of delinquent parents’ wages, seizure of their bank accounts, driver’s license suspension, denial or suspension of professional licenses and a "10 Most Wanted" list of child support deadbeats. Last year, the county added booting and seizure of vehicles to that list.

Single parents are no longer in the minority in our society. Single parent households make up more than 52% of families in the United States. Ironically, many feel isolated and alone to cope with the difficulties of raising children, building a career and creating a healthy place for their children to live and grow.

Over the years, many single parents have called my office requesting assistance with child support, housing, childcare and other issues. We have found that once a single mother or father is armed with the information and resources to take control over what may seem like an overwhelming set of circumstances, they can – and do – overcome the challenges of single parenthood. Raising children as a single parent is a fact of life in America – but being “single” does not necessarily mean being alone. We are fortunate in Suffolk County to have many people working together to help families to succeed. In my experience with the single parents that have called my office, many call asking for help -- believing there is nowhere else to turn, and are surprised to learn that there is a network of county and community resources available to assist. The Single Parents Resource Network is designed to help single parents find the help they need to parent effectively. For some, that may mean fulfilling the most basic needs of employment, housing and childcare. For others, it may mean finding a local support group or recreational activities for the family.

I hope this website will serve to inform, educate and empower Suffolk’s single parent families – and ultimately give parents some of the tools they need to ensure a happy and healthy foundation for our children. Our kids are our most precious resource.

STEVE LEVY
SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE