Social Integration of Deserted Mothers

The social problems which deserted mothers who are in receipt of Family Benefits experience has been a major concern of personnel in the Ontario Department of Social and Family Services for several decades. Their primary concern of the past has been that of ensuring the mothers adequate financial resources with which to purchase the necessities of life. Changes in legislation have reflected this concern, and with the recent passage of the Family Benefits Act, 1967, deserted mothers are assured of adequate finances with which to purchase their basic needs. With the basic requirements of food, shelter and clothing being assured to deserted mothers we can turn to other fundamental needs which have, in the past, often been obscured by the mother herself in her concern for material needs. The practitioner also, often by necessity, has concentrated on obvious needs. Rosow comments: “Hence, by concentrating on concrete material problems, practitioners can avoid thinking about subtler social needs that are less apparent and harder to manage, but equally compelling.” Deserted mothers’ problems are quite diverse and in contrast to some of the more obvious problems are the social problems they face. These problems primarily concern their social participation in their community, and the consequences of their present circumstances which are loneliness, isolation and alienation. The primary concern of this research design is that of social integration of deserted mothers