Welfare for Pregnant Teens

When it comes to finding welfare for pregnant teens, some teens may not know where to begin looking for assistance. There are many state and federal welfare for pregnant teens programs available. Keep reading to learn more about welfare for pregnant teens.

There are many welfare programs available for pregnant teens that are offered through the state and federal government. Programs that offer welfare for pregnant teens can help a young mother decide what to do about her pregnancy as well as care for her child in the case that she decides to keep the baby. Teen pregnancy statistics show that many young mothers and pregnant teens seek the help of welfare programs that can help them raise their baby. 

Welfare for pregnant teens:

Some pregnant teens do not choose to keep their baby and instead choose to put their unborn child up for adoption or they may decide to end the pregnancy through abortion. There are many programs that offer welfare for pregnant teens that include assistance in helping the pregnant teen in putting their child up for adoption. Some of  these programs are government funded while others are private adoption agencies. It is best to find out what option works best for your situation. Other teens who choose to end the pregnancy often encounter many emotional and psychological issues associated with abortion. There are public health clinics like Planned Parenthood and other government agencies that provide counseling and support for those who have had an abortion. These programs are often government funded and serve as a type of welfare for pregnant teens.

Medical expenses add up quickly when it comes to pregnancy between doctor visits, check ups, ultrasounds, and the delivery itself. Then there is always the medical costs that come with care for the baby like shots and check ups. Many pregnant teens do not have health insurance or are unable to pay for these medical expenses themselves especially in cases where their parents may not have enough money to pay for their daughter and her unborn baby. If the father of the baby is also a teen, it is likely that he does not have a sustainable income to help pay for the medical expenses accrued during pregnancy.  That is when government programs like Medicaid come into play. Welfare for pregnant teens like Medicaid can help teens pay for their medical expenses if they can otherwise not afford to. There are also other government programs that help young teen mothers or parents who cannot afford health care for their child like the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP,)  which helps pay for baby's and children's doctor visits and medical expenses. 

Welfare programs for after the baby is born:

There are many options when it comes to welfare programs for pregnant teens as well as young mothers like the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. WIC offers education, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnant teens and young mothers who have children up to age 5. Pregnant women of any age can qualify for WIC programs as well as an infant or child up to age 5 or a breastfeeding mother of a baby that is less than 12 months old. WIC also works by assessing the medical and nutritional needs of the pregnant teen or young mother in order to determine what the WIC needs are to set which benefits are available.

When it comes to welfare for pregnant teens programs, participants are often found to have longer, healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births and other health problems. It is important for pregnant teens and  young mothers to do research on these programs offering welfare for pregnant teens in order to find the plan that works best in assisting them in whatever direction they choose to take with their teen pregnancy. Some teens may need parent's approval or assistance in getting on some of these welfare programs if they are under the age of 18. The best way to find out about welfare for pregnant teens is to check out websites and get information from program representatives about how to qualify for assistance and how to apply for the programs. Welfare for pregnant teens present young mothers who feel unprepared for motherhood, medical expenses and more with a viable list of options on how to have a successful pregnancy. 

Sources: http://www.fns.usda.gov, http://www.adoptionservices.org

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