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Pregnancy & family help in New Jersey

38 organizations in New Jersey offering help with pregnancy, housing, food, childcare, adoption and more. We checked each one before listing it, but hours and services change, so please call ahead.

Adoption

  • Children's Aid and Family Services — Adoption

    State-approved New Jersey adoption agency: free, confidential counseling for expectant parents before and after birth whatever they decide, adoption of children ages 8–18, adoption complaint investigations, and birth family search and reunion support.

  • New Jersey DCF — Foster & Adoption Services

    Statewide

    Adopting a child from New Jersey foster care through the Department of Children and Families, with an adoptive parent handbook, waiting children, adoption subsidy and kinship support. Adoption: 1-800-99-ADOPT; fostering: 1-877-NJ-FOSTER.

Free / Subsidized Childcare

  • Gateway Community Action Partnership — Head Start & Early Head Start

    School-readiness programs for children ages 0–5, and Early Head Start for pregnant women and infants and toddlers in low-income families, at sites across Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem and Mercer counties. Transportation at many sites; services may be free to eligible families. Toll-free: (800) 457-3188.

  • GBCA Head Start (Greater Bergen Community Action)

    Free Head Start early learning for income-eligible families at twelve centres across Bergen County, Jersey City and Paterson: full-day classrooms, healthy meals, and health and dental screenings. Rolling enrollment; apply any time.

Churches / Baby Closets

  • Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center

    Free, confidential pregnancy help in North Jersey. Its PREP (Parenting Readiness Enrichment Program) gives material aid to expectant parents who come regularly for counseling, mentoring or parenting classes. Centres in Hawthorne, Hackensack (809 Main St) and Wayne (2025 Hamburg Turnpike). Text: 973-874-1184.

  • Options for Her

    Free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, a mobile unit, and material assistance on request as donations allow, such as cribs, car seats, diapers, formula, baby food, bottles and clothing. Centres in Cherry Hill, Trenton (732-362-2256) and Ocean City (609-398-9449).

Clothing / Supplies

  • Moms Helping Moms — NJ Baby Supply and Diaper Bank

    New Jersey baby supply and diaper bank that works through a network of partner organizations (it does not give items directly to families). Its Need Diapers page lists partners by county where families can get diapers and baby supplies.

  • The Mama Exchange

    Central New Jersey nonprofit that gives baby, maternity and household items free, from diapers, formula and clothing to baby gear such as bassinets and highchairs, gathered from community donations. Request items through the forms page.

  • Village Foster Closet

    Free clothing and essential supplies for foster families, kinship caregivers and teens who have aged out of foster care in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, so children entering care have what they need from day one.

Domestic Violence

  • New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence

    Statewide

    Statewide 24-hour domestic violence helpline, 1-800-572-SAFE (7233), plus a Deaf helpline (855-812-1001) and a guide to domestic violence services in each New Jersey county. In an emergency, call 911.

Employment

  • Dress for Success Central New Jersey

    Free interview outfits for women with a referral from a partner agency once an interview is scheduled, plus career-centre help, a Professional Women's Group and job-retention programs. Serves seven Central New Jersey counties.

  • Dress for Success Northern New Jersey

    Free interview outfits for women with a referral from a partner agency once an interview is scheduled, plus career-centre help, a Professional Women's Group and job-retention programs. Serves ten North Jersey counties.

  • New Jersey One-Stop Career Centers

    Statewide

    Free one-on-one career support from the NJ Department of Labor at One-Stop Career Centers across the state, walk-in or by appointment (unemployment help is by appointment only): job search, training and employment services.

Potential Financial Assistance

  • The Salvation Army — New Jersey Division

    Statewide

    Emergency help with rent, mortgage and utility bills from the Salvation Army's New Jersey Division, whose local teams assess each family's needs.

Food Programs

  • Community FoodBank of New Jersey — Find Food & Services

    Connects families with free food and services through more than 800 partner agencies in 11 counties, and helps people apply or recertify for SNAP. Locations in Hillside and Egg Harbor Township (609-383-8843).

  • Fulfill — Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties

    Pantry and soup-kitchen locator and mobile pantry schedule for Monmouth and Ocean counties. If you can't find a pantry near you, call (732) 918-2600.

  • Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

    Feeding America food bank for Mercer County, supplying more than 100 pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and meal sites. Use its Find Food locator to find food near you.

  • Norwescap Food Bank

    Food bank serving Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties through a network of partner food pantries, plus a school Backpack Program for children on weekends and holidays. Call for information on area pantries.

Health Assistance

  • CompleteCare Health Network

    One of New Jersey's largest federally qualified health centres, with 19 locations in South Jersey (Cumberland, Cape May, Gloucester and nearby counties), including women's care and OB/GYN in Bridgeton and Vineland, plus a mobile medical unit. Appointments: Cumberland County (856) 451-4700; Gloucester County (856) 863-5720.

  • NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid & CHIP)

    Statewide

    Free or low-cost health coverage for qualified New Jersey residents of any age, covering doctor visits, prescriptions and more. Children under 19 may apply regardless of immigration status. Apply online or call 1-800-701-0710.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership — New Jersey

    Statewide

    A registered nurse visits expectant parents at home during pregnancy and the child's first years, about two and a half years in all. New Jersey programs serve Atlantic-Cape May, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Passaic counties, a Southern NJ tri-county area, United Way of Central Jersey and Project Self-Sufficiency. Nurse-Family Partnership is now run by Changent.

Housing Assistance & Shelters

  • HomeFront

    Mercer County family services: the Connie Mercer Family Campus emergency family shelter with intensive support, homelessness prevention, and adult education and career coaching. Experiencing homelessness in Mercer County? Call HomeFront at (609) 989-9417 or the Mercer County Board of Social Services at (609) 468-8296.

Infant & Baby Equipment

  • Moms Helping Moms — NJ Baby Supply and Diaper Bank

    New Jersey baby supply and diaper bank that works through a network of partner organizations (it does not give items directly to families). Its Need Diapers page lists partners by county where families can get diapers and baby supplies.

  • The Mama Exchange

    Central New Jersey nonprofit that gives baby, maternity and household items free, from diapers, formula and clothing to baby gear such as bassinets and highchairs, gathered from community donations. Request items through the forms page.

  • Village Foster Closet

    Free clothing and essential supplies for foster families, kinship caregivers and teens who have aged out of foster care in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, so children entering care have what they need from day one.

Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance

  • The Center for Great Expectations

    Somerset nonprofit for pregnant and parenting women and teens affected by substance use, trauma, housing instability and mental health challenges: residential treatment where children under 5 can stay with their mothers, a residential program for pregnant or parenting teens with mental health needs, and START in-home counseling and telehealth for pregnant and postpartum women.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership — New Jersey

    Statewide

    A registered nurse visits expectant parents at home during pregnancy and the child's first years, about two and a half years in all. New Jersey programs serve Atlantic-Cape May, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Passaic counties, a Southern NJ tri-county area, United Way of Central Jersey and Project Self-Sufficiency. Nurse-Family Partnership is now run by Changent.

Parenting Classes

  • New Jersey Family Success Centers

    Statewide

    Free neighborhood "one-stop" family centres in every New Jersey county, run through the Department of Children and Families: parent education, parent-child activities, family support and links to other services before a crisis. Centres are listed by county on the page.

  • Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey — Home Visiting

    Statewide

    State office for Healthy Families New Jersey and Parents as Teachers New Jersey, free home visiting programs in all 21 counties that help new parents bond with their babies, support development and school readiness, and keep homes safe. In Essex County, the Essex Pregnancy & Parenting Connection links expectant and new parents to home visiting and other services.

Pregnancy Centers

  • Choices of the Heart

    Free, confidential pregnancy testing and limited ultrasound in Gloucester County, with same-day appointments.

  • First Choice Women's Resource Centers

    Free pregnancy tests, ultrasound to confirm a pregnancy (eligibility applies) and options information at five North and Central Jersey centres: Jersey City (201-656-6120), Montclair (973-655-9806), Morristown, Newark (973-856-6658) and New Brunswick (908-561-0079). Text: 862-225-6700.

  • Gateway Pregnancy Center

    Free pregnancy testing and other free services for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy in Union County. Hours include Monday 11 am–2 pm; call for the full schedule.

  • Life Choices Resource Center

    Free, confidential pregnancy tests, ultrasounds by a registered sonographer (including a mobile ultrasound unit) and peer consulting on all options. 24-hour helpline by phone or text: 732-516-0911.

Special Needs Assistance

  • Easterseals New Jersey

    Statewide

    Services for people with disabilities and special needs and their caregivers: adult services, supported employment and job training (including for Deaf and hard-of-hearing job seekers), and mental health services.

  • SPAN Parent Advocacy Network

    Statewide

    New Jersey's parent advocacy network for families of children with disabilities and special needs: help with special education and health rights, parent groups, transition to adult health care, and the Family-to-Family Health Information Center (Family Voices NJ). Toll-free in NJ: (800) 654-7726.

  • The Arc of New Jersey

    Statewide

    Statewide advocacy and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc of NJ Family Institute helps families understand and navigate the service system.

Support for Fathers

  • Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey — Parent Linking Program

    For expecting and parenting teens, mothers and fathers alike, at six sponsoring New Jersey high schools: free on-site childcare during school hours, parenting groups and case management to help young parents graduate.

Transportation

  • NJ FamilyCare — Free Rides to Medical Appointments (Modivcare)

    Statewide

    Non-emergency rides to covered medical appointments for NJ FamilyCare members anywhere in New Jersey, arranged by the state's broker, Modivcare. Call 1-866-527-9933 at least two days ahead (up to a month ahead by phone), or book online.

Looking for more? Nationwide hotlines and programs that also serve New Jersey are in the full directory search. Know an organization that belongs here? Tell us about it.