• You may be able to get medical-assistance benefits to help with prenatal care, childbirth, and neonatal care;
  


• The father of the child must help support your child if you decide to keep your baby. The law says that he must help even if he offered to pay for an abortion. (Remember, no one should pressure you into choosing abortion).

SAFE HAVEN LAW:
If you choose to have your baby and find yourself weighed down by the job of being a parent, Texas has the “Baby Moses/Safe Haven” law. The law allows you or the baby’s father to leave a baby under the age of 60 days old in a safe place and not return for the baby without fear of being charged with a crime, if the baby is not hurt. Safe places are hospitals, fire stations, emergency clinics or licensed child-placing (adoption) agencies.

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?
If you feel weighed down or fearful about being a parent, there is help available. Contact your local Crisis Pregnancy Centers. They are available to help meet your parenting needs. Many of these centers provide parenting classes, clothing, and diapers and other help services. Be sure and look on our link page, in your phone directory, or go online and look up centers near you.
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Texas Child Support Services
Assistance in Obtaining Child Support

The Texas Office of the Attorney General can assist you in getting child support for your baby. The Child Support Office can help locate a non-custodial parent, determine the father of the child (paternity), establish and enforce child-support orders, review and adjust child support payments, and collect child-support payments. If you need services, call 1 (800) 252-8014.

Information on this page is provided by the “A Woman’s Right to Know” Information Booklet 2003 Texas Department of Health. Be sure and visit www.tdh.state.tx.us