Pregnant Moms Will Thank You for Sharing These Resources
by Sai Sagireddy
12/19/2022
Everyone deserves to have a healthy pregnancy free of anxiety and worry. However, the sad reality is that many pregnant women worry about where their next meal is coming from, whether they will be able to afford next month’s rent, and how they will take care of their child.
Pregnancy and birth are the first of several major life events that shape health outcomes throughout an individual’s lifetime. The social and economic conditions, like healthcare, impact the health of moms in need. Helping under-resourced moms-to-be with healthy food, vitamins, transportation, and quality housing will create the best foundation for their future.
Five areas where disadvantaged pregnant mothers may need support are:
Helpful Resources for Pregnant Moms
Listed below are resources available for pregnant mothers in the state of Texas:
State-Wide
Family Resources Dashboard
This website lists programs and resources available to pregnant mothers as well as couples looking to start a family in the State of Texas.
Medicaid
Medicaid, a joint federal and state health coverage program, supports families with little or no health insurance. Through its services, pregnant women may be eligible to receive prenatal and postpartum care (up to 60 days). Healthcare costs are covered as long as care is received from a Medicaid provider. For any uninsured pregnant women ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP Perinatal is another viable option. It provides prenatal visits as well as labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
The Nurse Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership empowers first-time moms to create a better future for themselves and their babies. The nonprofit has specially trained nurses who partner with expectant moms, starting early in the pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. The organization offers services to women in 43 counties throughout Texas.
Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) provides federal assistance to low-income women during and after pregnancy as well as to infants and children up to age 5.
Lactation Care Centers
Lactation care centers in Houston, Austin, Dallas and McAllen provide breastfeeding support to mothers who've recently given birth. Their services are free to mothers who are eligible for the WIC program.
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Family Service, which assists people of all faiths, has locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston and offers free individual counseling sessions for low-income families. They also have a food pantry and offer classes and counseling for women seeking career advice.
Child Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program
Safe Riders develops partnerships with Texas stakeholders to educate on child passenger safety and coordinate the distribution of child safety seats to families in need. Safe Riders refers families to established distribution sites in their local community.
Austin
Central Health
Central Health helps low-income Travis County residents get access to affordable healthcare. They also provide assistance to those suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses.
Giving Austin Labor Support
For Austin-area women, Giving Austin Labor Support is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides free prenatal care. They also provide free, on-call doula services to mothers and have partnered with the Travis County Correctional facility to provide doula services to incarcerated pregnant women.
Foremost Family Health Center
The Foremost Family Health Center in Balch Springs offers health services on a sliding scale based on income.
Maternal Infant Outreach Program
The Maternal Infant Outreach Program provides free services, such as health education, one-on-one home visits and labor and delivery support to low-income black women in Travis County.
Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank provides mobile food bank services to all of Central Texas. It also provides social work services and enrollment support in programs such as SNAP.
Project Access Austin
Project Access Austin gives free medical care and ancillary services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured Travis County residents.
Simply Safety
Simply Safety offers everything from safety seats and life jackets to portable cribs and childproof locks at no cost or a reduced cost. They also offer financial assistance for car seats for qualifying families.
Dallas and Surrounding Areas
The Network of Community Ministries
The Network of Community Ministries in Richardson offers baby clothes and bill assistance.
Child Care Group
For Dallas area residents, the nonprofit Child Care Group provides early childhood education services to children and parents. It also launched helpmegrownorthtexas.org for parents and families to find resources such as family support services, parenting programs and early education and child care programs.
Houston and Surrounding Areas
The Houston Food Bank - SNAP
The Houston Food Bank helps women apply for SNAP — the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Community Family Centers
Community Family Centers provides family support services and early childhood education to low-income families living in Houston’s Greater East End.
Houston Star of Hope
Houston's Star of Hope is dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children living in the Houston area. They offer health clinics, parenting classes, on-site day care and counseling.
San Antonio
The Gabriel Project
The Gabriel Project provides material assistance for mothers in unexpected pregnancy.
A Woman’s Haven
A Woman’s Haven provides education on abortion, alternatives, and fetal development. All services are free and confidential.
Pregnancy and birth are the first of several major life events that shape health outcomes throughout an individual’s lifetime. The social and economic conditions, like healthcare, impact the health of moms in need. Helping under-resourced moms-to-be with healthy food, vitamins, transportation, and quality housing will create the best foundation for their future.
Five areas where disadvantaged pregnant mothers may need support are:
- Access to Healthcare
- Quality Childcare
- Financial Resources
- Social Resources
- Transportation
Helpful Resources for Pregnant Moms
Listed below are resources available for pregnant mothers in the state of Texas:
State-Wide
Family Resources Dashboard
This website lists programs and resources available to pregnant mothers as well as couples looking to start a family in the State of Texas.
Medicaid
Medicaid, a joint federal and state health coverage program, supports families with little or no health insurance. Through its services, pregnant women may be eligible to receive prenatal and postpartum care (up to 60 days). Healthcare costs are covered as long as care is received from a Medicaid provider. For any uninsured pregnant women ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP Perinatal is another viable option. It provides prenatal visits as well as labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
The Nurse Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership empowers first-time moms to create a better future for themselves and their babies. The nonprofit has specially trained nurses who partner with expectant moms, starting early in the pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. The organization offers services to women in 43 counties throughout Texas.
Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) provides federal assistance to low-income women during and after pregnancy as well as to infants and children up to age 5.
Lactation Care Centers
Lactation care centers in Houston, Austin, Dallas and McAllen provide breastfeeding support to mothers who've recently given birth. Their services are free to mothers who are eligible for the WIC program.
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Family Service, which assists people of all faiths, has locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston and offers free individual counseling sessions for low-income families. They also have a food pantry and offer classes and counseling for women seeking career advice.
Child Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program
Safe Riders develops partnerships with Texas stakeholders to educate on child passenger safety and coordinate the distribution of child safety seats to families in need. Safe Riders refers families to established distribution sites in their local community.
Austin
Central Health
Central Health helps low-income Travis County residents get access to affordable healthcare. They also provide assistance to those suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses.
Giving Austin Labor Support
For Austin-area women, Giving Austin Labor Support is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides free prenatal care. They also provide free, on-call doula services to mothers and have partnered with the Travis County Correctional facility to provide doula services to incarcerated pregnant women.
Foremost Family Health Center
The Foremost Family Health Center in Balch Springs offers health services on a sliding scale based on income.
Maternal Infant Outreach Program
The Maternal Infant Outreach Program provides free services, such as health education, one-on-one home visits and labor and delivery support to low-income black women in Travis County.
Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank provides mobile food bank services to all of Central Texas. It also provides social work services and enrollment support in programs such as SNAP.
Project Access Austin
Project Access Austin gives free medical care and ancillary services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured Travis County residents.
Simply Safety
Simply Safety offers everything from safety seats and life jackets to portable cribs and childproof locks at no cost or a reduced cost. They also offer financial assistance for car seats for qualifying families.
Dallas and Surrounding Areas
The Network of Community Ministries
The Network of Community Ministries in Richardson offers baby clothes and bill assistance.
Child Care Group
For Dallas area residents, the nonprofit Child Care Group provides early childhood education services to children and parents. It also launched helpmegrownorthtexas.org for parents and families to find resources such as family support services, parenting programs and early education and child care programs.
Houston and Surrounding Areas
The Houston Food Bank - SNAP
The Houston Food Bank helps women apply for SNAP — the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Community Family Centers
Community Family Centers provides family support services and early childhood education to low-income families living in Houston’s Greater East End.
Houston Star of Hope
Houston's Star of Hope is dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children living in the Houston area. They offer health clinics, parenting classes, on-site day care and counseling.
San Antonio
The Gabriel Project
The Gabriel Project provides material assistance for mothers in unexpected pregnancy.
A Woman’s Haven
A Woman’s Haven provides education on abortion, alternatives, and fetal development. All services are free and confidential.
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Sai Sagireddy is The Vitamin Bridge’s Research Intern. He is a junior Public Health Major at Baylor University with focuses on Economics and Social Innovation. Sai shares The Vitamin Bridge’s mission to promote the importance of prenatal nutrition.
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