A Parental Management Strategy for Single-Mothers with Adolescent Boys in South Chicago
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2017 A Parental Management Strategy For Single-Mothers With Adolescent Boys In South Chicago Philip C. Willis Jr. Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Willis, Philip C. Jr., "A Parental Management Strategy For Single-Mothers With Adolescent Boys In South Chicago" (2017). Dissertation Projects DMin. 377. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/377 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT A PARENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SINGLE-MOTHERS WITH ADOLESCENT BOYS IN SOUTH CHICAGO by Philip C. Willis Jr. Adviser: David Sedlacek ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Project Document Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A PARENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SINGLE-MOTHERS WITH ADOLESCENT BOYS IN SOUTH CHICAGO Name of researcher: Philip C. Willis Jr. Name and degree of adviser: David Sedlacek, PhD Date completed: May 2017 Problem The Mizpah and Brunswick Heights Seventh-day Adventist Churches are located in a predominately low-income community in the South side of Chicago. The church has many single mothers who face the challenges of raising their children without the presence of a father or male figure. This has had a devastating impact on the family and the children. Single-mother families are more likely to suffer from economic insecurity than two-parent families (McLanahan, 2004). Father-loss causes object hunger in males (Herring, 2005) and 75 % of all drug users and 65 % of all suicides (Sowers, 2010) come from fatherless homes. Method Training programs on finances, relationships, self-esteem, and raising boys were conducted for single-mothers. Surveys were administered among the participants to determine their level of satisfaction and self-esteem. Literature was reviewed on the challenges of single mothers who raise at-risk adolescent males and lessons were learned about a variety of skills and techniques that can be used to establish improved self- esteem, life satisfaction, and improved parenting skills. Results This project revealed the challenges that single-mothers have in raising adolescent males alone. It also raised the awareness of the specific needs for both single mothers and their children who are growing up without fathers. This project also revealed the challenges that single mothers have with self-esteem and gives hope that self-esteem can improve with training projects such as this. The focus groups with single mothers detailed their struggles and gave rich insight into their needs and how best to minister to them. This study further identified some of the possible programs that the church and community leaders could implement to support a growing need. Conclusions On the basis of this project’s findings, the church should be instrumental in the development of programs that implement training for not only single-mothers, but also for their sons. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A PARENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SINGLE-MOTHERS WITH ADOLESCENT BOYS IN SOUTH CHICAGO A Project Document Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Philip C. Willis Jr. May 2017 © Copyright by Philip C. Willis Jr. 2017 All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... v Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 Personal History ......................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................... 4 Statement of the Task ................................................................................. 5 Justification for the Project ........................................................................ 5 Expectations for the Project ....................................................................... 6 Delimitations .............................................................................................. 6 Limitations ................................................................................................. 6 Definition of Terms .................................................................................... 7 Description of the Project Document Process ........................................... 8 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING ................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................ 9 God’s Ideal for Family in Scripture ........................................................... 10 Evidence in New Testament ...................................................................... 11 Sexuality .................................................................................................... 11 Children ...................................................................................................... 12 Ellen G. White ........................................................................................... 13 Widow of Zarephath .................................................................................. 15 Scriptural Mentoring .................................................................................. 16 Significant Impact ...................................................................................... 20 Current View .............................................................................................. 22 Limitations ................................................................................................. 25 Restoration ................................................................................................. 25 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 26 3. LITERATURE REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT .............................................. 28 Introduction ................................................................................................. 28 Father Absence ........................................................................................... 28 Challenges and Solutions ............................................................................ 33 Impact of Single Mothers ........................................................................... 38 iii Self-Care ..................................................................................................... 42 4. METHODS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT ........................ 45 Description of the Intervention .................................................................. 45 Introduction .......................................................................................... 45 Ministry Context .................................................................................. 45 Research Methodology ........................................................................ 46 Development of the Intervention ............................................................... 48 Concise Review of Literature .............................................................. 48 Review of Theological Foundation ...................................................... 51 Gender Roles .................................................................................. 52 Raising Children ............................................................................ 55 Prophetic Voice .............................................................................. 56 Outcome Justifies Method ............................................................. 58 Impact of Absence ......................................................................... 59 Restoration ..................................................................................... 61 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 62 Implementation Narrative .................................................................... 62 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 66 5. EVALUATION AND RESULTS .................................................................... 68 Introduction ................................................................................................ 68 Description of the Research ....................................................................... 68 Outcomes ................................................................................................... 70 Self-Esteem Inventory ......................................................................... 70 Focus Group ......................................................................................... 71 Summary From Groups.............................................................................. 85 Conclusions ................................................................................................ 87 Recommendations ...........................................................................................