Teen Parenting Resources

Government assistance may be needed for teens and the parents of teens facing a pregnancy. Many teens work minimum wage jobs (if at all), need to finish school, and cannot simply afford health insurance, daycare costs and supplies to raise a child. 

Government programs for teenage mothers include:

• Apply for BenefitsCal - Apply for food (CalFresh), cash aid (CalWORKs, GA/GR, RCA, TCVAP), and health coverage benefits (Medi-Cal). 

• Nurse Family Partnership - Nurse-Family Partnership empowers first-time moms to transform their lives and create better futures for themselves and their babies. Scroll to the bottom to find a nurse near you.

• TANF.us - Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a public assistance program that helps families who need cash assistance to keep their children safe and in their home. 

  • TANF offers help with housing, work, and birth control options for after pregnancy.

• Health and Resource Assistance - Call 211.  The United Way 211 Hotline connects callers with health and human services near their home, often including food banks, clothing, shelters, physical and mental health resources, employment support, and family resource centers.

• CalWORKs Home Visiting Program (HVP) - The CalWORKs Home Visiting Program is a voluntary program supervised by the California Department of Social Services. 

  • The HVP aims to support positive health development and well-being outcomes for pregnant and parenting people, families, and infants born into poverty, expand their future educational, economic, and financial capability opportunities, and improve the likelihood that they will exit poverty. 

• Help with your utility bills - Directory of California utility companies.

Housing Resources

• Reduced Rent Assistance

• Affordable Apartment Listings by County 

• Public Housing Agency Vouchers

• California Vaccines for Children Program - 1-877-243-8832 Click here to find a VFC provider in your area. 

• Vaccines for Children (VFC) program - 800-232-4636 The CDC INFO hotline provides information on immunizations and connects callers to programs which provide vaccines to children based on financial need. Available in English and Spanish from 5:00AM – 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.

Healthcare

• Covered California Health Insurance

• Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP) provides pregnant individuals with co​mprehensive coverage for no-​cost with no copayments or deductibles for its covered services. 

  • Their newborns may be covered by the Medi-Cal Access Infant Program. 

• Birth Control and Insurance - 866-745-5487 The National Women’s Law Center’s Contraception hotline is available to receive help if health insurance won’t cover birth control without a co-pay.

• Affordable Health Insurance - 877-543-7669 The InsureKidsNow.gov hotline provides information about affordable health insurance and helps callers apply. Available in English and Spanish from 5:00AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and 6:00AM – 9:00PM on Saturday.

• Access free and low-cost healthcare - Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA 1-833-852-6262 The Maternal Mental Health Helpline connects moms and pregnant women to free or low-cost medical care in their community. Available in English and Spanish with hours varying by state.

• Eye Health - 888-396-3937 InfantSEE® offers free comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants between 6 and 12 months of age. The hotline provides directions on how to use the website. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

• Free Dental Care

Lifestyle

• March of Dimes - Provides resources for all stages of pregnancy.

• Safe Sleep for infants - 800-505-2742  The Safe to Sleep Campaign promotes infant back sleeping and other ways to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Callers can ask questions or order materials about sleep safety. Available in English and Spanish from 5:30AM - 1:00PM, Monday through Friday.

• Support for quitting smoking - 800-784-8669 The Smokefree.gov hotline connects callers to counselors for advice, support, and information about quitting smoking and help to develop a personalized quit plan. Available in English and Spanish and by live chat online. Hours of operation vary by state.

• HIV Consultation and Referral Service -  1-888-448-8765 The National Perinatal HIV Consultation Service offers counseling about HIV/AIDS and pregnancy, labor and delivery, and after pregnancy, and connects callers to health care. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

• Women’s Health - 800-994-9662 The Department of Health and Human Service’s Office on Women’s Health Helpline provides information and resources for various women’s health issues. Available in English and Spanish from 6:00AM – 3:00PM, Monday through Friday.

• Birth Control Methods - Bedsider provides information on different birth control methods and where to find them. They also provides a daily, weekly, or monthly birth control reminder by text or email.

• Breastfeeding Support - 800-994-9662 The National Women’s Health Information Center’s National Breastfeeding Helpline answers questions and helps callers decide if they need to see a doctor or lactation consultant. Available 6:00AM – 3:00PM Monday through Friday in English and Spanish.

• Nutrition Education and Food Assistance  - Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offers a variety of services including nutrition education and counseling, checks and vouchers to purchase specific foods each month, and referrals to health, welfare and social services for pregnant women, mothers, and children. 

• Food Assistance and Social Services -  1-800-548-6479 The WHYHunger’s National Hunger hotline connects callers to emergency food, government assistance programs, a listing of local food pantries, and social services. Available Monday through Friday 9:00AM – 6:00PM EST in English and Spanish.

• Food Bank Locator -  Feeding America’s food bank locators helps moms find food assistance near their home by zip code or state.

• Mental Health and Postpartum Depression Support - Call 1-800-944-4773 The Postpartum Support International “Warmline” offers basic information, support, and resources for moms going through sadness, anxiety, or trauma. Callers can leave messages and will have their call returned within 24 hours in English or Spanish.

  • Text in English: 800-944-4773

  • Text en Español: 971-203-7773 

• Grief Support - 800-221-7437 First Candle’s hotline provides grief support to callers affected by the loss of a baby. Available Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

• Domestic Violence - 800-799-7233 The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential and anonymous crisis intervention, options for next steps, and connection to sources for immediate safety.

  • It also provides specialized support for pregnant women and women with children. Available in English and Spanish, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services - 800-662-4357 The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline provides free and confidential referrals to local treatment, support groups, and community-based organizations. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week in English and Spanish.

• Generation Her - A FREE weekly program for teen mothers and pregnant teens. If you are pregnant or parenting and 13-25 years old, be a part of one, some or all of our programs.  We have in person and online options.  

  • Our goal is to encourage healthy, positive parenting, empower you as a mom and woman and to connect you to a supportive community of other moms and adults who love you.  

• Birth & Babies -  This resource offers free, online pre-baby classes that you can complete anytime, in your own home or other location where you have access to the Internet. 

  • There are also 'Just for Dad' classes. 

  • After the pregnancy, there are classes for new parents as well.

• YWCA -  Many YWCA facilities offer parenting classes and other programs for pregnant teens, though availability varies by location. Most have a fee, but it is minimal and the YWCA is known to never turn anyone away because of cost. 

• Resources for Dads

• California Parent & Youth Helpline - 1-855-427-2736  Call, text or live chat. Always free. 

• National Parent Helpline - 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736) Call the National Parent Helpline to get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent. 

• Free Diapers - The National Diaper Bank Network offers a directory of places to get free or affordable diapers.

• Free Cribs -  Cribs for Kids can help you find free cribs in your community.

• Child Care - 800-424-2246 - Child Care Aware® provides information on how to locate quality child care. Available in English and Spanish from 5:30AM – 4:00PM Monday through Friday.

• Car Seat Safety - 888-327-4236 The Child Car Seat Inspection Locator helps callers find a child safety seat inspection station. Certified technicians will inspect the child safety seat and show moms how to correctly install and use it. Available in English and Spanish from 5:00AM – 5:00PM Monday through Friday.

• SingleMomAssistance.Org - We uncover non profit and governmental assistance programs for single mothers. 

• First 5 California

• Homeless Shelters - The National Coalition for the Homeless offers a directory and links for local homeless shelters, women’s shelters, transitional housing, food pantries, and health care.

  • Local Resources click here.

• Teen Legal Guide to Sex, Pregnancy and Parenting

• Know Your Sexual and Reproductive and Health Rights 

• Planned Parenthood - This site will help you locate the Planned Parenthood center closest to you, and you can visit in person for assistance. 

  • Services vary by location and may include pregnancy testing and related services, women's health care, abortion, STD testing, treatment vaccines, emergency contraception (morning after pill), general health care and more.

• Birthright International -  24/7 HELPLINE:  1.800.550.4900 is an organization to help women cope with the stress associated with an unplanned pregnancy. 

  • Services you can find at Birthright include pregnancy testing, prenatal care information, referrals to social service agencies, assistance locating resources in your community that can help teen parents, information on how to place your baby up for adoption and more.