Resources to Help You Keep Your Baby
The following resources can assist parents in raising their children and avoiding adoption separation.
Nationwide Resources Support and Information
First Mother Forum's post "Giving Up Your Baby?" includes a list of resources.
Cornell University's Legal Information Institute provides links to adoption laws in the states.
Singlepregnancy.com is dedicated to empowering, informing, and supporting
single mothers-to-be, regardless of religious views, political views, orage. Created by Mari Gallion, author of The Single Woman’s Guide to a
Happy Pregnancy.
GirlMom.com provides support, community, and education for young mamas.
Adoption: Legalized Lies provides information and support to expectant parents. Can also help them find local resources that will aid them in keeping their babies, as well as offering baby supplies and parenting support.
Baby Items, Maternity Clothes
Freecycle is a great place to get baby items, as well as other tangible needs, donated by people who no longer need them.
Goodwill and Salvation Army stores have low-cost second-hand baby clothes, maternity clothes, and other baby items.
Food
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food and nutrition benefits for low-income women and children.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps): This program provides food assistance for people and families who meet certain tests, including income and resource tests.
Angel Food Ministries provides discount food, available in 32 states.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Not all 50 states participate in this program. If you are on WIC, you do not qualify for this program.
Financial Stability and Employment
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (formerly welfare): This program provides time-limited financial assistance and work opportunities to promote self-sufficiency for needy families. To apply, contact your state social service program.
To apply for child support, contact your state child support office.
CareerOneStop, by the Department of Labor, provides many tools to help job seekers with career success.
Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Housing
CoAbode is a national single mothers home sharing program.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) supports several rental assistance programs.
Health Insurance
You and your child may qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To learn more and find information about your individual options available and how to apply for these programs, see Healthcare.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov.
Fatherhood Programs
Fatherhood programs exist all over the country to help fathers be responsible and involved in their childrens' lives.
Transportation
Public transit may be available in your community.
Additional Resources in Particular States
Please remember to check out your own states support and recourses. You have a right to help and support, and there might very well be much more out there than you can imagine. You have a right to child support. You have a right to medical care.
It is much better to have a few hard years, than a life time of grief and loss!!
YOU CAN DO IT!!
Colorado:
Warm Hearts Warm Babies
303-919-5413 - Carol
Helps the family one time.
Florida:
BETA Center provides education and support for families.
Georgia:
The Teen-Parent Improvement Program is an effort to improve teen parents' lives by giving them a chance to go back to school. The project provides school-based day care services, family planning, health services, and education services to teen parents and their infants.
Maryland:
Crossway Community's Family Leadership Academy (FLA) is a unique on-campus, educational program designed to give single, economically disadvantaged mothers the tools they need to become effective parents and prepare them to succeed in education, in the workplace, and in the global economy.
Oregon/Washington:
Catholic Charities in Portland, OR provides assistance to pregnant women and offers adoption only as a last resort.
Texas
Saint Louise House provides deeply affordable housing and essential services to mothers and children impacted by homelessness in Central Texas. Their website links to many additional resources in the area.
Origins-USA appreciates suggestions for additional resources to add to this list. To suggest additional resources to help young parents, please contact Origins-USA at board@origins-usa.org. Note that we do not list organizations that promote or encourage adoption separation or that require clients to participate in religious meetings.
