These rights are the same for teen mothers and teen fathers!!!
All efforts should be made to place you with your baby. If you and your baby are not placed together, talk to your lawyer.
All efforts should be made to keep you and your child with your family or place you in the most family-like setting. You should also receive any Independent Living (IL) services your county provides. Because you are now a parent, you should also receive parenting support, instruction, and assistance in getting child care.
The county child welfare agency or private provider agency should help you apply for or provide child care for your child. Many teen parents will qualify for subsidized child care. To determine if you are eligible and find out where to apply, contact 1-877-4-PA-KIDS or 1-800-392-3131. If you are out of care and receiving welfare (TANF) or food stamps, check with your welfare caseworker to find out if you are eligible for child care assistance through your local welfare office.
Child support is money paid by the parent who does not live with the child to the parent who does. You can file for child support at your county’s domestic relations court. Your caseworker, lawyer, or TANF caseworker can help you file. If you are out of care and receiving TANF, you may not receive the money or you may only receive $50. In that case, the rest goes to reimburse the state for the cost of your benefits.
Yes. Just like teen parents have many of the rights of older parents, they also have some of the same responsibilities. You can be ordered to pay child support if you are in care and even if you are still in high school.
Last updated: Summer 2007
