They certainly should have access to a court appointed attorney.
But you have to have some brains to see you need help, and ask for it. Many don't.
But they don't because these cases are Civil jurisdiction and not Criminal. Therefore you are on your own. The most insiduous part of the whole process is the fact the courts allow Substitute Service in place of Personal Service! So not only does the mom get to lie about who the father is, she can also have a bogus address served the summons. Thus the target never knows he has been summoned to court and the court rubber stamps all the mom's requests because the defendant doesn't show up.
Now if you believe you can then come into court after the state starts garnishing your wages and prove you are not the father and get this corrected, you are 100% wrong. The courts will not change established paternity, period.