JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Tenara Jenkins was struggling. Her daughter’s father was murdered, leaving her the sole provider for their child, emotionally and financially. She wanted to work fulltime, but she couldn’t find a job that paid her enough to cover the cost of childcare.
It is a challenge far too many single mothers face in our country. According to Parenting Mode, 80% of single parents in the U.S. are single mothers. 35% of them earn a smaller median income than single fathers and only 45% of them receive full child support.
Jenkins felt like she was lost, until she stumbled upon a flier left at the apartment complex where she lived. “I wasn’t making enough to fulfill my rent and childcare expenses on top of a car note, on top of car insurance,” she explained.
That flier led her to her lifeline, BEAM’s Single Parent Program. BEAM, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, offers food and financial support to families who live or work in the beaches communities.
It’s Single Parent Program provides emotional and financial support to single mothers, like Jenkins.
Valarie Johnson is one of the program’s case managers. “Our goal is to remove the barriers that have been halting you from moving to the next level,” she explained. “We work on finance, we work on life skills, parenting and, of course, work force development,” she said.
“The first day I spoke with Miss Valarie, I told her my goals and she said you should be a CNA and I was like, no, I really wasn’t going toward that, but something was like, open your mind, open your heart,” described Jenkins about her first conversation two years ago with Johnson.
She entered the program, earned her Certified Nursing Assistant training certification and is now flourishing. She was not deterred by the demands of the program, knowing it would help her reach her goals of providing for her 4 year old daughter Ja’Lanii.
The single parent program not only helped her earn her certification, but it helped her pay her rent, electricity and childcare so she could work to learn the skills to become self- sufficient.
“I did it and doors just started to open, so many doors just started to open,” she said.
“The number one requirement is to show up,” explained Valarie Johnson, who said applicants are required to attend intensive workshops once a week for 16 weeks, which is just the first phase of the program. It’s a three year commitment. Here are the eligibility requirements:
- Live or work in our coverage area zip codes (32233,32266,32250,32082,32224 and 32227)
- Are at or below identified poverty levels (no to low income)
- Currently employed or seeking employment
- Currently housed
- Able to dedicated time to the curriculum (that includes zoom workshops and in person workshops)
- Desire to experience self-sufficiency
Two years later, Johnson says she could not be happier. “I work at Vicar’s Landing and I just love it. Everything about that job I love,” said Jenkins. “I’m a certified nursing assistant and the pay is amazing. So now I’m able to pay childcare; I’m able to pay my rent; I’m able to pay my light bill,” she said.
Johnson said not only is the program changing the lives of single mothers, but it’s changing the lives of their children.
“So when a mom can take care of all the bills, and have enough money to say, ‘let’s go to the movies,” I can say yes in the store,” said Johnson about breaking a cycle of hopelessness,“think about spending a lifetime thinking, no, no, no I can’t, we don’t have enough, it’s not possible and then in a short period of time going from I think we can and then from I think we can, to we did it not just in 2024 we’re talking about decades later.”
Tenara Jenkins has now started her own business, called Pure Joy Support Services, offering personal support services and companion care as a private CNA to help elderly and disabled people.
BEAM is always looking to connect with businesses in the Jacksonville area that would love to facilitate job placement for single moms who have ambition and desire for gainful employment. Many of its participants have medical certifications, such as a CNA. Johnson said, “BEAM is open to and would love to work with all industries.”
“Also, with the holidays approaching, we would love to invite companies to consider sponsoring moms and the program as a whole with monetary gifts. Our moms always are in need of gift cards, gas cards and bus passes,” said Johnson.
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