**Tennessee’s Safety Net for Moms and Babies Leaves Much to Be Desired**
Tennessee is known for its low cost of living and natural beauty, but the state’s social services for mothers and young children are not as appealing. A recent study found that Tennessee has a porous safety net, making it difficult for moms to get the help they need.
Taylor Cagnacci, a 29-year-old mom from Kingsport, is frustrated with the lack of assistance available to her. “You have to have your child,” she said. “But where’s the assistance afterward?” Cagnacci relies on Medicaid and a federally funded nutrition program, but she knows many other moms who are not as lucky.
**Doctor Shortages and Prenatal Care**
The study also found that Tennessee has a shortage of primary care doctors, particularly in rural areas. This can make it difficult for pregnant women to get the prenatal care they need. In fact, more than 3% of babies born in Tennessee last year had mothers who didn’t receive any prenatal care.
**Food and Diaper Programs**
Moms in Tennessee also face challenges when trying to access food and diaper programs. DiDi Davis, a Nashville resident, was supposed to have surgery to prevent pregnancy but was cut off from Medicaid just days before her procedure. She became pregnant and developed preeclampsia, requiring an emergency delivery.
DiDi credits a nonprofit preschool provider with helping her get back on Medicaid. “People just don’t have the knowledge” about available aid programs, she said.
**The Hypocrisy of Aid Programs**
Researchers point out that the weakness of Tennessee’s safety net shows the hypocrisy of lawmakers who claim to be pro-life but support policies that limit access to abortion and social services.
“The system is broken,” DiDi said. “And it needs to be fixed.”
**A Fragmented Safety Net**
Charities can help, but they don’t cover the entire state. Nonprofits are often hindered by government income rules or the ebb and flow of donations.
Nonprofit leaders fear that their job may get harder with a new administration in Washington and a GOP-controlled Congress. “We’ve been through four years of a Trump administration,” said Signe Anderson, senior director of nutrition advocacy at the Tennessee Justice Center. “I’m concerned…for families in Tennessee and across the country.”
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