The typical American family isn't so typical these days.

According to the latest KIDS COUNT report, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 25 million kids nationwide are growing up in single-parent families.

Forty-six states reported an uptick in this figure, including New Jersey, which has seen a steady increase over time. Today, nearly one-third of Garden State children are being raised by single parents.

Pointing to past research, the report said children from single-parent families are more likely to drop out of school, have or cause a teen pregnancy and get divorced later in life, compared to kids of married-couple families.

"Single-parent families don't have the resources that a two-parent family may have," added Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of Advocates for Children of New Jersey. "That lower income, of course, has an impact on things like housing, meeting basic needs, putting food on the table."

Forty-six states reported an uptick in this figure, including New Jersey, which has seen a steady increase over time. Today, nearly one-third of Garden State children are being raised by single parents.

Pointing to past research, the report said children from single-parent families are more likely to drop out of school, have or cause a teen pregnancy and get divorced later in life, compared to kids of married-couple families.

"Single-parent families don't have the resources that a two-parent family may have," added Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of Advocates for Children of New Jersey. "That lower income, of course, has an impact on things like housing, meeting basic needs, putting food on the table."

According to an associate director for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the nation is seeing more births to single parents, as opposed to married couples splitting up after a baby is born.


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