SINGLE PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS FORM IN CAPE

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School's Single Parent Program is forming a single parent support group for south, central and east Cape Girardeau.

Single parents of children attending May Greene are particularly urged to participate, said Dorothy Hardy, director of the vocational school program. The sessions will include lesson on how to identify problems and how to solve them.

"Many single parents and displaced homemakers have become discouraged, and with their existing low self-esteem they sink deeper into acquiescence, depression and dependency," Hardy said.

"Those are the persons we're trying to reach. We've found so many who simply lack information on what is available and how to go about accessing financial aid, career counseling and basic education to precede job skills training."

The central and east Cape support group sessions will begin in early April following a meeting with officials at the Cape Civic Center and the Red Star Baptist Church.

Hardy said principals at May Greene and Washington schools have been involved in the planning. "We want to get more community agencies, church groups, students and citizens involved," she said.

Volunteers are also needed. Already members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Southeast Missouri State University, a Golden Age Club member, several ministers and a university professor have volunteered. Members of the Single Parent Community Advisory Committee have also been involved in planning.

"There is still much do be done such as meeting with volunteers for orientation and about methods of advertisement, creating posters, designing flyers and door hangers. We will also need to make telephone assignments," Hardy said.

For information, call Hardy at 334-0826.