Additional Resources

In addition to the free support services our counselors and mentors can provide you, there are additional community programs that may be helpful to you during your pregnancy and as a parent of a newborn. Our mentors can help you with referrals to these programs, but descriptions and contact information are provided below if you would like to learn more on your own.

Food and Nutrition

• Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Program. If you are pregnant, or you have a newborn (12 months old or less), or children up to their 5th birthday, the WIC Program can provide you the following benefits:
• Supplemental nutritious foods
• Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics
• Screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services
WIC services are offered in county health departments, hospitals, mobile clinics, community centers, schools, public housing sites, among others.

To get more information about the WIC Program call (toll free): 1 (800) 942-3678 or visit the website.
• Food Stamps. You may be able to receive Food Stamps, which allow you monthly support to buy food in certain stores. The Food Stamps Program also provides nutrition education about making healthier diet choices on a limited budget.

Call 2-1-1 to get more information about Food Stamps in your area, or visit the website.

Medical Care

• Medicaid. If you are pregnant, or you are 18 years old or younger, or if you have children who are 18 years old or younger, you or your children may qualify to receive Medicaid, which is free health insurance.

Call the Medicaid hotline for more information 1-800-252-8263 or visit the website.
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If you do not qualify for Medicaid, your children may still be eligible to receive medical coverage through CHIP, which provides insurance for eligible uninsured children. The services covered include immunizations, regular check ups, prescription drugs, lab tests and more.

Call the CHIP toll free number 1-877-KIDS-Now for more information, or visit the website.
• CHIP Perinate Program. If you are pregnant but are not eligible for Medicaid due to your income or immigration status, you can still receive medical care for your unborn baby with the help of this program, which expands CHIP coverage to unborn children. Once your baby is born, he or she will receive full CHIP coverage. The services that CHIP Perinate covers are limited to services related to your child such as prenatal care, labor, and postpartum care associated with the birth of the child.

Call the CHIP toll free number 1-800-647-6558 for more information, or visit the website.

Temporary Assistance

• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). You may be eligible to receive time-limited grants (cash assistance) to help you each month. Grants are based on your need, and are available for single or two-parent households.

TANF could also help your family by giving you one-time cash assistance of $1,000.00 in the following situations: 1) if your family is facing an emergency, and 2) when grandparents become the caretakers of eligible children.

Call 2-1-1 to get more information about TANF in your county or find more information in the website.

Child Support

• The Texas Office of the Attorney General can assist you in obtaining child support for your baby. The child-support office determines which services are best for your needs. These services include help at locating a parent, determining paternity, establish and enforce child-support orders, collect child-support payments, and others. The services are free of charge.

You may contact the child support office by calling 1-800-252-8014 or visiting the website.

Abuse Situations

• Child Abuse. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. You can report child abuse or neglect at the toll free number 1-800-252-5400. By calling this number you can make a report if you prefer to remain anonymous, if you do not have sufficient information to complete the report, if you do not want an e-mail confirmation for your report or in case of emergency. Reports should be made as soon as possible.

Get more information on how to make a report.

You can also make reports through the secure website.
• Domestic Violence. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. You can find a list of agencies that provide shelter, non-residence resources, and special project needs that the Health and Human Services Commission includes in its website.

Call 1 (800) 799-SAFE to get more information or visit the website.