Maternal healthcare access is a challenge for all of North Texas, especially local migrant communities. In this interview with Univision, Hope Cottage Director of Parenting Vanessa Ramirez explains how CeCe’s Place, our Maternal Medical Clinic partnership with HHM Health, provides comprehensive women’s services to all community members regardless of insurance status:

Edited from Univision: 

Amid the challenges faced by pregnant migrant women in Texas, the Hope Cottage provides essential health services free of charge to those who might not otherwise have access.

Hope Cottage's director of services, Vanessa Ramirez, emphasizes the organization's mission: "We are simply here to provide these services to everyone."

With this inclusive philosophy, Hope Cottage has become a vital refuge for women like Moctezuma Alvarez, who shares her struggles to obtain medical care during pregnancy due to financial constraints.

"It's expensive, it's difficult to obtain," Moctezuma says. "Sometimes I need to ask the government for help to get it."

Her words reflect the difficult reality faced by many pregnant migrant women in Texas: lack of access to adequate health care due to financial and institutional barriers.

Yolanda Ortiz, another migrant mother, points out the specific challenges faced by pregnant women: "It's very difficult to get health insurance, especially when you're pregnant. I think it's harder because when you're pregnant it's not easy to find a job."

Hope Cottage not only offers prenatal care services, but also provides support and guidance to women who are considering adoption as an option.

"We know that in the state of Texas we legally only have two options for our pregnancy: raise the child or make an adoption plan," explains Vanessa Ramirez.

In addition to prenatal care, Hope Cottage also offers parenting programs, free parenting classes, and counseling to support families in their child's development.

The organization also has infant adoption programs and partnerships to provide medical guidance to migrants without resources.

For women who need prenatal assistance or think they may be pregnant, Hope Cottage has both a hotline and walk-in access to its facility at 609 Texas Street in Dallas on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information or to access Hope Cottage services, you can call 214-526-8721 or email info@hopecottage.org.