Life-Affirming Programs and Initiatives in New Jersey
Despite the current pro-abortion stance of the majority party in New Jersey, the state continues to offer a range of life-affirming programs that provide essential support to individuals and families. From health and nutrition assistance to paid family leave and child care aid, these initiatives empower families with valuable resources. This guide offers a comprehensive overview of available services for those who choose to have their children and not pursue abortion, ensuring that, even in a challenging political climate, families can access the support they need to make life-affirming choices.
Choose life: Say no to abortion. You have options and support available to you. Regardless of the pressure you may face from the state or its representatives, the decision is ultimately yours—and it’s your baby.
1. Pregnancy Resource Centers
Pregnancy centers are life-affirming non-profits supporting women with unexpected pregnancies. Part of a national network, they provide accurate information on all options and offer services to help women make informed decisions. Centers also offer ongoing care, education, and support to families, promoting the “love them both” approach.
Free services include:
- Lab-quality pregnancy tests
- Information on parenting, adoption, and abortion
- Ultrasounds
- Consultations with medical professionals or counselors
- STD/STI testing
- Material resources like diapers, clothing, and baby items
- Parenting education
- Housing referrals
Find a Pregnancy Resource Center near you on the Pregnantnj.com website.
2. Financial Support for Families
Work First New Jersey / Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF)
WFNJ/TANF provides economic assistance (cash benefits) for families, pregnant individuals, and caregivers to improve their finances and reach their goals.
Key Benefits:
- Cash payments, paid monthly
- Eligibility for NJ FamilyCare
- Referrals for employment, training programs, child-care assistance, and transportation support
- Case management aimed at moving families toward self-sufficiency
Eligibility:
- Families with children 18 or younger, pregnant individuals, and caregivers
- New Jersey residents with income below WFNJ/TANF limits
- Subject to a five-year lifetime limit on cash assistance
Learn More & Apply for WFNJ/TANF
Learn about the NJ Catastrophic Illness In Children Relief fund. The Fund is a financial assistance program for New Jersey Families with potentially catastrophic medical expenses due to a child’s illness or condition.
3. Health and Nutrition Support
NJ FamilyCare for Pregnant Women
NJ FamilyCare offers comprehensive health coverage for eligible pregnant members, from prenatal care through a full 365 days of postpartum support. Services include prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, regardless of immigration status for emergency labor and delivery services.
Key Services:
- Transportation assistance for healthcare visits
- Breastfeeding support (breast pumps, lactation counseling)
- Behavioral health and dental care
Learn More About NJ FamilyCare for Pregnant Women
nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs — Pregnant Women
New Jersey WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Nutrition Program
NJ WIC provides healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education for families with children under 5, pregnant, and breastfeeding women.
Key Benefits:
- Nutrient-rich foods loaded onto an EBT card
- Peer counseling and breastfeeding support
- Referrals to healthcare and social services
Eligibility:
- Families with income below WIC guidelines, or already enrolled in NJ FamilyCare or WFNJ/TANF
- Available regardless of immigration status
Learn More About NJ WIC
Note: New Jersey mothers have the right to breastfeed in any public or private location. N.J.S.A. 26:4B-4.
4. Parental and Family Leave
Family Leave Insurance (FLI) and Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
New Jersey’s Family Leave Insurance program offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to bond with a newborn, newly adopted, or newly placed foster child, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Temporary Disability Insurance provides paid benefits for a worker’s own pregnancy-related disability.
Key Benefits:
- TDI covers wage replacement during pregnancy-related disability leave
- Up to 12 weeks of FLI benefits for bonding with a new child, taken continuously or intermittently within the child’s first year
Eligibility:
- Most New Jersey workers who contribute to the state plan, or who are covered under an approved private plan
Learn More About FLI/TDI
myleavebenefits.nj.gov — Maternity
New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) — Unpaid, Job-Protected Leave
In addition to FLI, the NJFLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 24-month period for bonding with a new child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
Eligibility:
- Currently applies to employers with 30 or more employees; expanding to employers with 15 or more employees effective July 17, 2026
- Available to eligible employees regardless of gender
Learn More About the NJFLA
NJ Division on Civil Rights — NJFLA
5. Child Care Assistance
New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, helps families access child care programs through financial assistance, paying child care providers directly.
Eligibility:
- Based on family income, employment, education, and certain life circumstances (e.g., domestic violence, homelessness)
Service Need:
You may be eligible if parents or caregivers in your household are:
- Working, job-seeking, or attending school/training
- Facing challenges such as homelessness or domestic violence
Learn More & Apply for the Child Care Assistance Program
6. Safe Haven
Since 2000, New Jersey has offered a life-affirming option for parents in crisis through the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act — a law that allows the legal, safe, and anonymous surrender of a newborn 30 days old or younger. This compassionate alternative protects the infant’s life and shields parents from prosecution, provided the baby shows no signs of abuse or neglect.
Under the law, a parent may leave their newborn with staff at any hospital emergency room, police station, fire station, ambulance, or first aid/rescue squad staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since 2023, a parent may also leave a baby at a licensed general hospital after giving birth there, if they indicate they don’t plan to return for the infant. The baby is then placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
You do not have to identify yourself, though you may choose to share helpful information about the baby, such as a name, medical history, or your future intentions regarding custody. Your privacy will be respected.
What happens when a baby is surrendered
- The baby is kept safe, and DCF is immediately contacted.
- The receiving facility calls the Safe Haven Hotline no later than the next business day.
- The baby receives a medical screening and health coverage.
- If unclaimed within 21 days, the process toward termination of parental rights and adoptive placement begins.
- Placement follows in a DCF-approved foster or pre-adoptive home.
A compassionate choice for your baby
If you’re scared or unsure of what to do, the Safe Haven law offers a safe, compassionate choice for your baby. You can go to any hospital, police station, or fire station, or call 911 for help.
For more information or local resources, call the Safe Haven Hotline at 1-877-839-2339 and visit:
For Federal resources to help Moms and babies, please visit Moms.gov.
Adapted for New Jersey with permission from Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL). New Jersey-specific resources and links have been provided by New Jersey Right to Life.