On July 20 Hope Cottage delivered a very successful Adoption 101 presentation to staff members at Alley’s House, a Dallas based non-profit organization whose mission is to empower teen moms in order to forever end a cycle of poverty that, otherwise, would likely be passed on to their children. Alley’s House provides a number of free services to pregnant/parenting teen moms including case management services, mentoring programs, support groups, computer training, high school/GED tutoring, on the job office training, life skills workshops, and counseling services. Most clients are self-referred or referred by CPS or schools, and are between the ages of 13 and 21.
After the presentation, Hope Cottage Training Coordinator Heather Hussong sat down with Alley’s House Executive Director, Allison Whitehead, to discuss how Alley’s House is changing lives.
HH: How is Alley’s House addressing the issue of teen pregnancy?
AW: Alley’s House requires active clients to sign an agreement they will not get pregnant again while an active client. The success rate of this agreement is 96%. Teen parents receive counseling to address current needs and demands of a teen parent.
HH: How are pregnant/parenting teen girls benefiting from the services offered at Alley’s House?
AW: Alley’s House offers client support they would not have otherwise. Case managers and programs services provide clients with an individualized plan.
HH: What is the ultimate goal of Alley’s House services?
AW: To help girls become independent by creating and being involved in their own plan to be successful parents. Most moms think life is over when they become pregnant because they think they have no options. Alley’s House helps them create goals for their future and build self esteem to achieve those goals.
AW: Support.
HH: At the end of the day, what is your biggest reward?
AW: Seeing teen mothers feel empowered and aware they have a say and choices. That is when they get that they can take action.
After the Adoption 101 presentation by Hope Cottage, staff at Alley's House decided to include information about adoption, if the client expressed an interest, during the first visit with a new client.
To learn more about Alley’s House, visit their website.
Hope Cottage is the oldest nonprofit, non sectarian adoption agency in Dallas. Since 1918 Hope Cottage has been building and nurturing strong families through counseling, education and adoption services.
If you are a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and would like to talk to someone about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 1.800.944.4464 or 214.404.4546
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