Carol Quantano's son was five years old when she unexpectedly found herself the head of the household. All the decisions and burdens usually shared by two parents now became her sole responsibility.
Today, this is not an unusual event. Separation, divorce, illness or death of a spouse, or any multitude of reasons could result in a household headed by a woman.
Unfortunately, our culture still doesn't prepare a woman for this role. There are no college courses entitled "Women Head of Household 101". Carol, through trial and error, learned how to survive and maintain her family unit, providing the financial necessities, moral fibers and parental guidance required to prosper in our society. She had to learn how to guide her son from childhood, through adolescence and finally to being an educated young man ready and able to assume his role in society.
The experiences Carol had along this path were the seeds that were planted, nurtured, and evolved into the organization, Households Headed by Women, which is dedicated to addressing the needs and concerns of family units headed by women.