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Pregnancy & family help in Pennsylvania

41 organizations in Pennsylvania 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

  • Bethanna — Adoption

    Christian child-welfare agency and SWAN affiliate that recruits, trains and supports adoptive families for children in foster care who cannot return home, with services before, during and after adoption.

  • Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN)

    Statewide

    Pennsylvania's network for adopting children from foster care, funded and overseen by the Department of Human Services; the SWAN helpline answers questions about adoption and permanency.

Free / Subsidized Childcare

  • Allegheny Intermediate Unit — Head Start

    Head Start for eligible preschool children in Allegheny County, in classrooms or at home, with health and wellness, social services and family engagement. Families receiving TANF or SSI, experiencing homelessness, fostering, or within the income guidelines qualify. Call 412-394-4594 to enroll.

  • Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County — Head Start (Thrive to Five)

    Lancaster County's Head Start provider: home-based and centre-based early learning for eligible children from birth to age 5, with extended-day options and support for caregivers too. CAP also runs Parents as Teachers home visiting from pregnancy.

Churches / Baby Closets

  • Align Pregnancy Services (Align Life Ministries)

    Free pregnancy tests, first-trimester ultrasounds, prenatal and parenting classes, and baby care essentials for mothers and fathers choosing to parent, at four centres: Lancaster, Lebanon, Ephrata and Columbia. Formerly Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services.

  • Genesis Women's Clinic

    Free pregnancy tests and first-trimester ultrasounds in Pottstown and Phoenixville, with free supplies for mothers who choose life: diapers, formula, baby food, clothing and kids' accessories.

  • Women's Choice Network

    Free pregnancy testing, ultrasound and STD testing in Pittsburgh and Monroeville. Participants in its parenting programs can receive free baby supplies: diapers, clothes, and larger items like cribs and car seats.

Clothing / Supplies

  • Align Pregnancy Services (Align Life Ministries)

    Free pregnancy tests, first-trimester ultrasounds, prenatal and parenting classes, and baby care essentials for mothers and fathers choosing to parent, at four centres: Lancaster, Lebanon, Ephrata and Columbia. Formerly Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services.

  • Genesis Women's Clinic

    Free diapers, formula, baby food, clothing and kids' accessories for mothers who choose life, plus free pregnancy tests and first-trimester ultrasounds, in Pottstown and Phoenixville.

  • Providence Pregnancy Center

    Free, caring support for pregnant women in Northeastern Pennsylvania: friendship and encouragement, free baby items (diapers, wipes, clothing, toiletries and baby gear) from local donors, education videos, and the Casa de Maria maternity home.

Domestic Violence

  • Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Find Help

    Statewide

    Find your local domestic violence program with PCADV's Pennsylvania directory: shelter, counseling and advocacy, plus free civil legal information. In an emergency call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

Employment

  • Dress for Success Erie

    Interview attire by agency referral, a career centre and support programs for women seeking work, now at the Mercy Anchor Community Center.

  • Dress for Success Greater Philadelphia

    Free services for women seeking work: interview attire and career support through partner referral agencies.

  • Dress for Success Pittsburgh

    Interview and first-weeks-on-the-job attire (by referral from a partner agency once you have an interview), a career centre and employment-retention programs for women.

  • PA CareerLink

    Statewide

    Pennsylvania's job centres and job board: search jobs, find your local CareerLink office, and reach employment and training programs, including vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

Potential Financial Assistance

  • The Salvation Army — Western Pennsylvania Division

    Statewide

    Emergency utility, mortgage and rent assistance from the Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Division to help families struggling to pay basic bills stay in their homes; local teams assess each family's needs. Eastern Pennsylvania is served by the Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division (salvationarmyusa.org).

Food Programs

Health Assistance

  • PHMC Health (Public Health Management Corporation)

    Federally qualified health centres in Philadelphia offering primary care, women's health, and mental health and substance-use care. Care for all patients regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee scale for uninsured and underinsured patients.

  • Primary Health Network

    Community health centres across Pennsylvania with a sliding fee discount for income-eligible uninsured or underinsured patients, plus help with health insurance.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership — Pennsylvania

    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. Pennsylvania has 17 local programs, including Philadelphia, Allegheny, Lancaster, York, Chester, Berks, Schuylkill and Wyoming counties, Bethlehem, and hospital-based programs (UPMC, Geisinger, Lehigh Valley, Einstein, Robert Packer). Nurse-Family Partnership is now run by Changent.

  • Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) — Apply

    Statewide

    Health coverage for eligible children, pregnant women, parents and others. Apply online through COMPASS or call the Consumer Service Center at 1-866-550-4355. Children not eligible for Medical Assistance can get CHIP.

Housing Assistance & Shelters

  • Bethesda Project

    Shelter, housing and supportive services at 11 Center City Philadelphia locations for adults experiencing homelessness, using a Housing First approach; the site also points to where to find shelter tonight.

  • Project HOME

    Philadelphia nonprofit offering street outreach and permanent, subsidized housing for individuals and families who had been homeless. Philadelphia Homeless Outreach Hotline: 215-232-1984.

Infant & Baby Equipment

  • Prepared to Thrive

    Chester County nonprofit providing essential baby and children's items to families in need. It does not take requests from families directly: ask your social worker or case manager to put in a request through one of its partner service providers.

Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance

  • Maternity Care Coalition — Behavioral Health

    Philadelphia-area support for pregnancy, postpartum and parenting: behavioral health programs (including perinatal loss), home visiting with an Advocate during pregnancy and after, community doulas and lactation help, and parenting education. Call (215) 972-0700, option 2.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership — Pennsylvania

    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. Pennsylvania has 17 local programs, including Philadelphia, Allegheny, Lancaster, York, Chester, Berks, Schuylkill and Wyoming counties, Bethlehem, and hospital-based programs (UPMC, Geisinger, Lehigh Valley, Einstein, Robert Packer). Nurse-Family Partnership is now run by Changent.

Parenting Classes

  • Catholic Charities of Philadelphia — Family Service Centers

    Five family service centres across the Philadelphia five-county area offering prenatal and parenting support, food and diaper pantries, financial support and help with public benefits. Centres in Chester (Delaware County) and Northeast, Southwest and North Philadelphia.

Pregnancy Centers

  • A Baby's Breath

    Pregnancy testing and ultrasounds at centres in Jeffersonville, Collegeville, Wayne, Phoenixville and Warminster.

  • Amnion Pregnancy Care Medical Center

    No-cost pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds and STD testing and treatment, free and confidential, at centres in Drexel Hill and Norristown.

  • Morning Star Clinics

    Free, confidential pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, STD testing and treatment, options information and community referrals at medical clinics in Harrisburg, Middletown and New Cumberland.

  • Providence Pregnancy Center

    Free, caring support for pregnant women in Northeastern Pennsylvania: friendship and encouragement, free baby items (diapers, wipes, clothing, toiletries and baby gear) from local donors, education videos, and the Casa de Maria maternity home.

  • Real Alternatives — Pennsylvania Pregnancy and Parenting Support Services

    Statewide

    Administers Pennsylvania's state-funded network of free, confidential pregnancy and parenting support centres (it does not provide or refer for abortion). Call 1-888-LIFE-AID or enter your zip code to find a centre near you.

Special Needs Assistance

  • Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania

    Programs and services to help children with disabilities thrive, in western and central Pennsylvania. In the Philadelphia area, Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania (sepa.easterseals.com, 215-879-1000) offers early intervention, autism services and pediatric therapies.

  • Vision for Equality

    Philadelphia advocacy and family support for people with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families, including parent support groups and family support projects. Family line: 1-844-PAFamily.

  • PEAL Center (Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership)

    Statewide

    Parent-founded centre that educates and empowers families of children, youth and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs, with help on special education and inclusive education. Offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; toll-free 866-950-1040.

  • The Arc of Pennsylvania

    Statewide

    Statewide advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, with inclusive-education and customized-employment programs and local chapters.

Support for Fathers

  • Family Services of Montgomery County — Fatherhood Program

    Fathers in the greater Pottstown area (and in Montgomery County Correctional Facility) learn healthy re-engagement, effective discipline and how to connect with their children's school and community. Family Services also runs Parents as Teachers, Triple P and Parent Cafés.

Transportation

  • Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP)

    Statewide

    Free non-emergency rides to medical appointments for Pennsylvanians on Medical Assistance with no other way to get there: vans, taxis or accessible vehicles, or bus passes. Contact your county MATP office to register and book.

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