Texas Mom Resources—Support for Every Stage of Motherhood

When money is tight or benefits end, even the basics can feel out of reach. Save Texas Moms connects mothers across the state—especially in maternity care deserts—with free, local resources for food, housing, baby supplies, and financial help.

Explore these sections to find immediate help or long-term support.

Whether you’re pregnant, caring for a newborn, or rebuilding after a setback, the programs you’ll find here exist to help you stay safe, nourished, and supported.

Pregnant or Postpartum? WIC May Help Cover Healthy Foods.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides nutrition benefits, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible mothers and children across Texas.

  • Pregnant mothers
  • Breastfeeding mothers (up to baby’s first birthday)
  • Postpartum mothers (up to 6 months if not breastfeeding)
  • Children under age 5
Start Your WIC Application

Already receiving Medicaid? You likely meet income guidelines.

  • When grocery budgets run short or SNAP benefits end, local food banks can help. Many offer fresh produce, formula, and baby food (no proof of income required). Some even provide mobile pantries for rural areas and drive-through pickup for families with young children.

    Find Food Banks Near You

  • No parent should have to choose between diapers and dinner. Across Texas, diaper banks and community programs, offer free diapers, wipes, and hygiene kits for mothers and caregivers. Many also provide postpartum support items like pads and baby toiletries.

    See Diaper Banks Near You

  • Stable housing keeps families safe and healthy. If you’re behind on rent or struggling with electricity or water bills, statewide and local programs can help prevent eviction or utility shut-offs. Emergency shelters and transitional housing options are also available for mothers and children.

    Explore Housing & Utilities Help

  • Many Texas families are struggling to make ends meet, especially after losing SNAP or childcare benefits. Several programs across the state provide short-term financial relief, monthly cash assistance, and help covering essentials like rent, bills, and transportation. Common options include:

    TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families): Monthly cash aid for eligible parents and relatives caring for related children.

    WIC (Women, Infants & Children): Nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum mothers.

    Healthy Texas Women: Free well-women exams, birth control, and preventive care.

    Community Action Agencies: County-level funds for emergency rent, utilities, and food.

    211 Texas: Call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org for local financial and social service referrals.

  • Your emotional well-being matters just as much as your physical health. Whether you’re feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or struggling after birth, confidential help is available 24/7.

    If you or someone you know is in crisis,

    • Call or text 988, National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    • Call Postpartum Support International, 800-944-4773

    • Call the NAMI Texas Helpline, 800-950-6264

    • Many HealthPoint & local clinics offer counseling and family therapy on a sliding scale.

    Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

Find a WIC Clinic Near You

Free Transportation to Medical Appointments

Pregnant and postpartum mothers—and caregivers bringing babies or children to appointments—may qualify for free non-emergency medical transportation through Texas Medicaid or CHIP.

Call the Texas Medicaid & CHIP Non-Emergency Medical Transportation line to:

  • Check the status of both the parents’ and the baby’s coverage

  • Ask whether transportation benefits are available

  • Get help scheduling a ride to medical, WIC, or pharmacy appointments
    (Call even if your application is still pending.)

📞 877-633-8747 (877-MED-TRIP)
Official Texas program administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Learn more and find out how to schedule a ride:
👉 Texas Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Program

Texas TIPS (Texas Teratogen Information in Pregnancy)

Operated by MotherToBaby, Texas TIPS provides free and confidential counseling about medication, environmental, workplace, and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mothers and families can speak directly with trained specialists to receive evidence-based information tailored to their situation.

👉 Visit Texas TIPS

🔗Remember to look for urgent maternal warning signs during pregnancy and a year after.

Find immediate emotional support: The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, call 1-833-TLC-MAMA. Text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential support.

🔗 No car? No problem! Nonemergency medical transportation services are available.

Call 855-550-6667 for breastfeeding support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

🔗Get tested: HIV, STI, and hepatitis testing and vaccines are available near you.

Call 1-800-222-1212 for immediate poison control help.

🔗 Is your baby constantly crying, and you don’t know what to do? Visit www.childhelp.org or call Childhelp USA at 1-800-422-4453 for a 24-hour hotline. Their counselors will provide proven strategies to help you cope.

Pregnancy resources for moms

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Help for Texas moms: Maternity care services, family planning, job training, prenatal and postpartum care, health screenings, you name it. We’ve got you covered!

 

    • The Every Body Texas supports family planning clinics throughout Texas that provide confidential reproductive health care, including birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and preconception health services. Services are on a sliding scale based on income. Find a clinic near you here.

    • Planned Parenthood affiliates around Texas offer prenatal care, birth control, pregnancy tests, postpartum care, and screenings for diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. There is also a Greater Texas Virtual Health Center for virtual visits.

    • Healthy Texas Women and Healthy Texas Women Plus are state-run programs that provide free women’s health and family planning services to eligible lower-income women. HTW Plus offers additional postpartum care services to women who have been pregnant within the past 12 months.

    • The International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) has chapters in Austin, College Station, El Paso, and Houston. The organization works to promote cesarean awareness and improve outcomes for moms and babies.

    • La Leche League, which operates in more than 70 communities across Texas, provides resources to women who are currently breastfeeding, about to start, or trying to stop. They have local support groups and meetings.

    • Breastfeeding experts at Texas WIC offer advice and support to all women at BreastmilkCounts.com.

    • Title V Maternal and Child Health Fee-for-Service Program supports lower-income families who are not eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or other sources that cover the same services. Learn more:

    • The March of Dimes has resources reminding birthing people that low-dose aspirin provides big benefits. Your healthcare provider may also prompt you to take low-dose aspirin to reduce the risk of preeclampsia.

    • The Women's and Men's Health Services of the Coastal Bend offers preconception and early prenatal health care; family planning and reproductive life planning; pregnancy tests; screening and treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and women’s annual exams, including screening for breast and cervical cancer.

    • The WIC Lactation Care Center of Dallas provides breastfeeding support to mothers who’ve recently given birth. These services are free to all mothers who are eligible for the WIC program, regardless of income. 

    • The Community Wellness Clinic in Conroe provides high- and low-risk prenatal care, and all qualifying patients are placed on Medicaid during their initial visit. Next-day appointments are available, and same day is possible for new prenatals. The clinic also participates in the Texas Family Planning Program.

    • The Legacy Community Health Clinic, a United Way-affiliated agency, provides health care including adult primary care, pediatrics, dental care, vision services, behavioral health services, OB/GYN and maternity care, vaccinations and immunizations, health promotion and community outreach and comprehensive HIV/AIDS care to Houston and Harris County residents.

    • AccessHealth offers comprehensive prenatal care, including health education and family planning. It also offers pediatric services, behavioral health services, nutrition counseling and HIV care management. It has locations in several Texas communities, including Richmond, Missouri City, Weimar, El Campo and Prairie View.

    • San Antonio-based Family Service Organization is a nonprofit offering job training, counseling and early childhood education services for Texas families. 

  • The Nest — Prenatal Health Promotion Program — Lubbock, Lubbock County
    Free prenatal health promotion services for expecting mothers through a collaboration between Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, March of Dimes, LCCHWC, and other partners.
    https://www.ttuhsc.edu/nursing/combest/nest.aspx

    Hope Chest — Midland Memorial Hospital — Midland, Midland County
    Incentives program that promotes healthy behaviors during and after pregnancy.
    https://www.midlandhealth.org/main/hope-chest

    For Her Women’s Medical Services — Lubbock, Lubbock County
    Free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment, and related pregnancy support services.
    https://www.forherlubbock.com/

    Parkridge Medical Clinic — Lubbock, Lubbock County
    Free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, and educational resources.
    https://www.parkridge.org/

    The Life Center — Midland, Andrews, Odessa, and Big Spring
    Supports expectant mothers and fathers with educational tools and mentorship. Serves Midland, Andrews, Ector, and Howard Counties.
    https://thelifecentertx.org/

    Pregnancy Resources of Abilene — Abilene, Taylor County
    Free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and counseling.
    https://prabilene.com/

    The Gabriel Project — Catholic Charities of El Paso — El Paso, El Paso County
    Support and resources for pregnant women.
    https://www.elpasodiocese.org/project-gabriel-support-for-pregnant-moms.html

    Healthy Amarillo Women — Amarillo, Potter/Randall Counties
    Local resource directory for women’s health, pregnancy, and family support services in the Amarillo area.
    https://healthyamarillowomen.org/resources/

Resources for lower-income families

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Find and compare the providers near you. Visit www.medicare.gov/care-compare/

 

    • Need help in paying for medical care? Texas has numerous programs that provide lower income and uninsured women with access to free medical care. The Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies has created this reference sheet on the public healthcare coverage programs.

    • Medicaid, a joint federal and state health coverage program, supports families with little or no health insurance. Through its services, pregnant women may be eligible to receive prenatal and postpartum care (up to 60 days). Healthcare costs are covered as long as care is received from a Medicaid provider. For any uninsured pregnant women ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP Perinatal is another viable option. It provides prenatal visits, and labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Visit the Texas Health and Human Services website to learn more.

    • The Nurse-Family Partnership empowers first-time moms to create a better future for themselves and their babies. The nonprofit has specially trained nurses who partner with expectant moms, starting early in the pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. The organization offers services to women in 43 counties throughout Texas.

    • The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) provides federal assistance to lower-income women during and after pregnancy as well as to infants and children up to age 5. Find a local WIC agency here. For eligibility information, visit the Texas WIC website.

    • Lactation care centers in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and McAllen provide breastfeeding support to mothers who have recently given birth through the Texas Ten Step program. Their services are free to mothers who are eligible for the WIC program.

    • Jewish Family Services, which assists people of all faiths, has locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston and offers free individual counseling sessions for lower-income families. They also have a food pantry and offer classes and counseling for women seeking career advice.

    • Some local fire stations and police departments will give mothers free or reduced-priced car seats.

    • Central Health helps lower-income Travis County residents get access to affordable healthcare. They also provide assistance to those suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses.

    • For Austin-area women, Giving Austin Labor Support is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides free, on-call doula services to mothers and has partnered with the Travis County Correctional Facility to provide doula services to incarcerated pregnant women.

    • The Foremost Family Health Center in Balch Springs offers health services on a sliding scale based on income.

    • The Maternal Infant Outreach Program provides free services, such as health education, one-on-one home visits, and labor and delivery support to lower-income African American women in Travis County.

    • The Central Texas Food Bank provides mobile food bank services to all of Central Texas. It also provides social services and SNAP enrollment support.

    • Dell Children’s Simply Safety Store offers everything from safety seats and life jackets to portable cribs and childproof locks at cost or a reduced cost. They also offer financial assistance for car seats for qualifying families.

    • The Network of Community Ministries in Richardson offers baby clothes and bill assistance. 

    • For Dallas area residents, the nonprofit ChildCareGroup provides early childhood education services to children and parents. It also supported Help Me Grow North Texas for parents and families to find resources such as family support services, parenting programs, and early education and child care programs.

    • The Houston Food Bank helps women apply for SNAP — the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

    • Community Family Centers provide family support services and early childhood education to lower-income families living in Houston’s Greater East End.

    • Houston's Star of Hope is dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children living in the Houston area. They offer health clinics, parenting classes, on-site day care and counseling.

  • Permian Basin Mission Center — Odessa, Ector County
    Free food, clothing, household necessities, rent and utility assistance, and education.
    https://www.permianbasinmission.org/

    Odessa Family Pathways — Odessa, Ector County
    Shelter and meal program.
    https://www.odessafamilypathways.org/

    Early Head Start — Amarillo, Potter/Randall Counties
    Education, resources, and support for low-income mothers.
    http://www.esc16.net/headstart

    Panhandle Community Services — Texas Panhandle
    Community support services for families in the Panhandle region.
    https://www.pcsvcs.org/

Resources for domestic abuse survivors

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National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can provide confidential support 24-7, 365 days a year. They will connect you with an advocate who will provide safety plans, options, and resources in your area.

  • Call: 800-799-SAFE (7233)

  • TTY: 800-787-3224

  • Chat online: thehotline.org

  • Text: “START” to 88788

If you are a mother experiencing exploitation, coercion, abuse, or human trafficking, please know that you are not alone. Save Texas Moms recognizes that some pregnant and postpartum mothers may be navigating unsafe or controlling situations while trying to care for themselves and their children.

Help is available, and confidential support exists for mothers and families in crisis.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Call: 1-888-373-7888

Text: “HELP” to 233733

Website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org

The hotline is available 24/7, confidential, and can connect individuals with emergency assistance, shelter, safety planning, healthcare, and local support services.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

 

    • The SAFE Alliance in Austin (formerly SafePlace and Austin Children's Shelter) provides housing and support for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation.

    • The Austin Shelter for Women and Children serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to mothers and children (boys no older than 17) and has case managers available for residents.

    • In Austin, LifeWorks helps assist children and families facing homelessness, trauma and abuse.

    • The Family Place in Dallasprovides shelter for women leaving abusive relationships.

    • In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, CHETNA supports members of the South Asian community impacted by domestic violence.

    • Hope's Door New Beginning Center, which has several locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,specializes in intervention and prevention services for those affected by family or domestic violence.

    • Expectant or current mothers in Plano can visit Emily’s Place, which provides weekly counseling sessions, addiction recovery programs, vocational assistance and employment assistance. It is faith-based organization that requires an up-to-24 month commitment for their residents. The mandatory classes cover topics such as life and job skills, financial training, parenting and etiquette.

    • In Kaufman, Forever Families serves women who are, or have been, in abusive relationships and women with substance abuse issues. Victims of domestic violence in Kaufman can also find housing, counseling, parenting classes and job services at the Genesis Center.

    • Bay Area Turning Point provides several resources, including shelter, to families and victims of violence in the Houston area.

    • The Houston Area Women's Center offers counseling and shelter to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their non-offending family.

    • Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse in Houston provides domestic violence victims with free legal representation by their trauma-informed staff attorneys. They also offer psychoeducation counseling for abusers.

    • Katy Christian Ministries offers counseling services and shelter referrals for those affected by domestic violence. It also offers limited financial  assistance, food pantry referrals, Christmas assistance and more for  eligible families living in the Katy and west Houston areas. 

    • The Mujeres Unidas in McAllen supports female victims of domestic assault and sexual abuse.

    • The East Texas Crisis Center, which has offices in Smith, Henderson, Van Zandt and Wood counties, provides safety, shelter and education for victims of family violence, sexual assault and other violent crime.

  • Family Support Services — Amarillo, Potter/Randall Counties
    Counseling and additional support services for domestic violence survivors and families.
    https://www.fss-ama.org/

    La Posada Home — El Paso, El Paso County
    Support services for women and children escaping domestic violence.
    https://laposadahome.org/

    Women’s Protective Services of Lubbock — Lubbock and surrounding counties
    Women, children, and family services. Serves Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Garza, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum Counties.
    https://www.wpslubbock.org/

    Safe Place of the Permian Basin — Midland/Odessa, Midland/Ector Counties
    Emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and support services for domestic violence survivors.
    https://safeplacenow.com/

Resources for those struggling with mental health or substance abuse

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Looking for mental health resources and support? New moms and their families can receive free, confidential help through the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Call 1-833-TLC-MAMA/1-833-852-6262.

The Never Use Alone (Overdose Prevention Line) is a free, confidential national hotline for individuals using substances alone. When you call, a trained operator stays on the line with you, collects your location, and can contact emergency services if you become unresponsive, helping reduce the risk of a fatal overdose. This is a harm-reduction service focused on safety, with no judgment or pressure to seek treatment. Call 1-800-484-3731 or 877-696-1996.

 

    • Postpartum Support International (PSI) Texas Chapter

    • Call the suicide hotline at 1–800–273–8255 or text 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to text with a trained crisis counselor. The lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7.

    • The National Association on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. It has a toll-free HelpLine open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

    • The website MannMukti helps encourage an open dialogue about mental health issues in the South Asian community to remove stigma and improve self care. They also have a national resource guide that includes services available to South Asian women living in Houston, Dallas and Austin. 

    • Golden Crescent Management of Opioid Risk in Mothers (GC-MOMS) is a free educational home visiting program that supports pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and their families in DeWitt, Lavaca, Jackson, and Calhoun counties. GC-MOMS reduces the incidence and impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and improves systems of care, family supports, and social determinants of health.

    • In Corpus Christi, South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services (STSARS) offers substance abuse programs for Coastal Bend residents. Most services are free.

    • In Dallas County, Metrocare provides services and support for people dealing with mental illness or developmental disabilities.

    • In Mesquite, the Nexus Recovery Center offers services for mothers or expectant mothers with addiction. It offers programs for adult women and teenage girls ages 13 to 17.

    • In El Paso, Emergence Health Network helps residents with mental illnesses, intellectual or developmental disabilities or substance abuse issues find resources and treatment to help with their disorders and disabilities.

    • The Houston Recovery Center offers a wide range of services, including help with accessing primary care and mental health resources; assistance with housing and employment applications; support applying for SNAP, Medicaid, and other assistance program benefits; guidance with substance use treatment and recovery services; and health education and outreach.

    • Mental Health America of Greater Houston provides a comprehensive list of mental health resources in Harris County. 

    • The South Texas Behavioral Health Center, with locations in Brownsville and Edinburg, teaches people how to  cope with varying behavioral health conditions and addictive disorders.

    • The Dignity Women’s Center in San Antonio has several counselors available to help victims of abuse, anxiety, spousal abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    • The Mommies Program in San Antonio supports pregnant mothers with substance use disorders and offers recovery services to their babies.

    • The Center for Health Care Services in San Antonio assists people with mental health disorders, substance use challenges and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    • The University Health System in San Antonio offers gynecology services for expectant mothers and new moms and provides services for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

    • UT Health East Texas offers behavioral health assistance — including treatment provided by experienced therapists, counselors, and nurses — to those dealing with mental illness. 

    • Lakes Regional Community Center serves 15 counties in Northeast Texas with mental health, mental disability and recovery services.

  • Texas Panhandle Centers — Texas Panhandle
    Mental and behavioral health services in the upper 21 counties of the Panhandle.
    https://www.texaspanhandlecenters.org/

    NAMI Lubbock — Lubbock County
    Free mental health education, support, and resources for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions.
    https://namilubbock.org/

Intensive Perinatal Mental Health Treatment

Some pregnant and postpartum mothers need more support than weekly counseling can provide. Postpartum Support International maintains a national list of intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient perinatal mental health treatment programs. Texas currently has a limited number of listed intensive perinatal mental health options, including in-person and virtual statewide programs.

Families can find supportive programs on PSI’s intensive treatment directory.

Because program availability, insurance, costs, and eligibility can change, please contact each provider directly to confirm details. PSI also offers Support Navigators who can help families explore options.

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Read the latest Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, which estimates 80 percent of the pregnancy-related deaths in Texas were preventable.

The Texas State Health Plan examines the factors affecting health equity in Texas. It makes recommendations concerning access to care, rural health, teleservices and technology, and the state’s mental health and behavioral healthcare workforce.

The March of Dimes reports offer a comprehensive overview of maternal and infant health in Texas. They provide comprehensive data and illustrate where resources are needed to reduce the complications of pregnancy during delivery and postpartum.

 

This exceptional guide provides resources for mothers, lower-income families, domestic abuse survivors, and those struggling with mental illness or substance abuse. Originally created by Alex Samuels of The Texas Tribune and expanded by Save Texas Moms.

If you are a Texas service provider who would like to be added to this list or an existing provider who needs to update/correct information, please email us.

Save Texas Moms works statewide to reduce barriers to maternal health and daily essentials. Explore our online directories and share them with another mom who might need support today.