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Help for Teenage Moms

Motherhood is a challenge for every woman, and it is much harder for young teens. Teenagers often do not have the skills or education for gainful employment, and may not have a supportive family to help raise the child. They may also suffer from psychological distress caused by the responsibility of raising a baby. Fortunately, there are programs designed to help teenage moms learn the skills they need to raise a healthy baby while pursuing their own career or education goals.

  1. Planned Parenthood

    • Planned Parenthood is a not-for-profit agency providing health care, education and support to anyone, with a focus on pregnant teens and teenage mothers. There are Planned Parenthood clinics in every state in the U.S., and they provide care regardless of a patient's ability to pay. They also offer a sliding scale according to each person's financial status, and free birth control. One of the most helpful services Planned Parenthood offers for teen mothers is an outline of a teen parent's rights. This includes information about school grants, child care and access to regular high school course work, not just courses designed for teen mothers.

    Health and Human Services Agency

    • The Health and Human Services Agency offers help for teen mothers who need information or support. The HHS offers a variety of teen mother education programs nationwide (in many cases with the help of local Social Services Agencies). For example, in California, Santa Clara County offers classes on parenting like the Keep Your Freedom Keep Your Dreams Program. The HHS also offers foster placement for children whose mothers can't care for them. These placements can be temporary, to give the mother time to get on her feet, or permanent, for mothers who want to put their children up for adoption.

    HUD Second Chance Homes

    • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development runs an adult-supervised group home program for teenage mothers and their children. The program is not open to all teenage mothers, but specializes in teens who do not have homes, or who cannot live at home because of neglect, abuse or extenuating circumstances. These homes teach teenage mothers about parenting, help them apply for school or work, involve them in the community and get them ready to strike out on their own to raise their families.

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