The family remains a core value for European citizens even though the reality of families has become much more complex and diversified. Single-parent families are a particularly visible example of this trend, as we are witnessing today a growing number of this type of families. They are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion and poverty - it is estimated that one out of four lone parent families is poor according to EU criteria. Support for lone parents cannot exclusively rely on economic benefits but also depended on broader measures which would deal with the fact that lone parents' poverty is not only economic but also social, cultural and educational. Based on these issues, the article is structured in two parts. The first part shows the evolution of single-parent families in Europe and how the issue is reflected within the Romanian governmental programs for social assistance. The analysis was based on legal regulations on services and benefits relating to single-parent families, combined with statistical data provided by Eurostat and the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection and The National Institute for Statistics. For the related to the issue presented. The second part presents the results of a research measuring the effectiveness of services and family benefits among single-parents families. The investigation was conducted within Giurgiu County, using the questionnaire as a method for gathering information. Data interpretation was made using techniques of descriptive statistical analysis.