The plight of single mothers living in poverty is the topic of a series of three free public forums -- entitled “Dreams Deferred: Single Mothers and Poverty” -- to be presented by the Montgomery County Commission for Women (MCCFW) over the next three months.

Each forum will include a panel discussion with issue experts, policy makers, advocates and service providers. The goal of the series is to draw attention to the issue and to begin the discussion of strategies to address this problem.

According to the Commission’s “Report on The Status of Women in Montgomery County” released in June 2007, just three percent of families in Montgomery County have incomes below the poverty line, but 30 percent of local families headed by a single mother with young children live in poverty.

Although all interested members of the community are invited, the series should be of special interest to elected officials, advocates, social workers, women’s policy activists, students and researchers.

The commission’s Mothers and Poverty (MAP) Committee has scheduled the forums to be held on the following dates:

March 19 – “In the Shadows: Single Mothers, Young Children and Poverty;

April 16 – “In Real Life: Why Are So Many Single Mothers Poor?”; and

May 21 – “Dreams Realized: Programs That Work.”

The programs will be held at the Commission for Women, 401 N. Washington St., Rockville, from 7 to 9 p.m.

“In relatively affluent areas like our own, the needs of low-income single mothers can often be overlooked,” said MAP Committee Chair Tedi Osias. “That’s why the commission last year created the (MAP) Committee to address the issues facing this most vulnerable population within our community.”

To request ADA program accommodations, contact the Commission for Women five work days in advance.

To register, call 240-777-8330 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw.