In States That Ban Abortion, Social Services Aren’t Enough
Tennessee Mom’s Struggle
Taylor Cagnacci moved from California to Tennessee with hopes of starting a new chapter in a state that touts a low cost of living and natural beauty. But she’s infuriated by Tennessee’s meager social services, which leave her and many other moms struggling in a state where abortion is banned with limited exceptions.
“I was going to have my child no matter what, but for other women, that’s kind of a crappy situation that they put you in,” said Cagnacci, a 29-year-old Kingsport mom who relies on Medicaid and a federally funded nutrition program. “You have to have your child. But where’s the assistance afterward?”
Tennessee’s Safety Net
Tennessee has a porous safety net for mothers and young children, recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press found. It’s unknown how many women in the state have given birth because they didn’t have access to abortion, but it is clear that from the time a Tennessee woman gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child, and a financially stable family than the average American mom.
Like other states with strict abortion bans, Tennesseans of childbearing age are more likely to live in maternal care deserts and face overall doctor shortages. Women, infants, and children are less likely to be enrolled in a government nutrition program known as WIC. And Tennessee is one of only 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid to a greater share of low-income families.
GOP Leadership
GOP state leaders in Tennessee and other states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 argue that they are bolstering services for families.
Tennessee boosted its Medicaid coverage for mothers in 2022 from 60 days postpartum to a year, which allowed an additional 3,000 moms to use the program each year.
The state also raised the Medicaid income limit for parents to the poverty level — nearly $26,000 for a family of three — and offers recipients 100 free diapers a month for babies under 2. According to the governor’s office, these changes have resulted in thousands of new parents accessing government services.
“Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn,” Republican Gov. Bill Lee said in his 2023 annual address to lawmakers and echoed more recently on social media. “This is not a matter of politics. This is about human dignity.”
Nonprofit Leaders
Nonprofit leaders and mothers told the AP there are still significant gaps in the safety net.
Anika Chillis, a 39-year-old single mom in Memphis, has Medicaid, WIC, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps). While she’s deeply grateful for the help, she said it also can disappear — like when she temporarily lost WIC.
“It’s hard,” she said, sitting on a park bench as her 2-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter played nearby. “Groceries are constantly going up.” And being a single mom “makes it doubly hard on you.”
Medicaid and Health Care Challenges
Tennessee fared poorly at WIC enrollment, Medicaid, having enough maternal care, and requirements for paid family and medical leave, an October study found.
Other states with similarly restrictive abortion laws — such as Idaho, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi — ranked poorly on numerous measures, too. Researchers said restrictive states had a slightly higher average birth rate and a much lower average abortion rate than the least restrictive states.
“In general, these states that restrict abortion are the more fiscally conservative, the more socially conservative states,” said Dr. Nigel Madden, lead author of the study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Food and Diaper Programs
Moms described several aid programs as frustrating to navigate. Chillis was on WIC for several months after her son was born, but then went without because of a mistake during the renewal process — eventually getting it restored with help from the nonprofit Tennessee Justice Center.
Chillis credits a nonprofit preschool provider with linking her to aid programs in the first place: “I don’t see a lot of advertisements about, you know, how you can join this program or go get this” service, she said. “People just don’t have the knowledge.”
Charities Struggle to Fill Gaps
Of Tennessee’s 2.8 million households, 30% earn above the poverty level but not enough to afford the basic cost of living in their counties, according to a recent report. Often, they don’t qualify for government help.
“Some are working three jobs and still can’t survive,” said Janie Busbee, founder of Mother to Mother, a Nashville-based nonprofit providing baby supplies for low-income moms.
Conclusion
The article highlights the challenges faced by women in Tennessee and other states with strict abortion bans. Despite the state’s efforts to bolster services for families, mothers still struggle to access essential resources, including healthcare, food, and diapers. The lack of support can have long-term consequences for both mothers and their children, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. It is crucial for policymakers to recognize the importance of providing adequate support to families, particularly in states with restrictive abortion laws.
FAQs
Q: What are the challenges faced by women in Tennessee and other states with strict abortion bans?
A: Women in these states face greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child, and a financially stable family, including limited access to healthcare, food, and diapers, and a lack of support services.
Q: What are some of the issues with the safety net in Tennessee and other states with strict abortion bans?
A: The safety net in these states is often porous, with limited access to Medicaid, WIC, and other government programs, and a lack of support services for low-income families.
Q: How do nonprofit organizations help fill the gaps in the safety net?
A: Nonprofit organizations like Mother to Mother and the Tennessee Justice Center provide essential services, such as baby supplies and nutrition assistance, to low-income families, but their ability to do so is limited by funding and government rules.
