Case 6: Single Parent Family

The fictitious Baker family is comprised of an unmarried bisexual white mother born in the U.S.  and 3 children, one of who is under the age of 5, who lives in the Detroit, MI metropolitan area. The biological father of the youngest child was deported back to El Salvador despite being a political refugee; his whereabouts are currently unknown and they fear he has been murdered. The biological, estranged father of the two older children, both school-aged, died, penniless, from Covid-19. Because the family’s income is considered below the poverty line, they receive the following governmental benefits: SNAP, WIC, TANF, housing assistance, and Medicaid.

You have been hired by your employer to help the mother determine when her return to the workforce is feasible, given that her income as a 12 months teacher aide might put the family’s income over the poverty line leading to additional expenses such as childcare, transportation, and professional attire. When is this probable? How would this help but also hurt her family’s financial situation?

In the requested written report, include a comparative financial analysis table, your findings, and highly credible and trusted sources of information/references.