We've Moved!

You might have been wondering just where the Hope Cottage Blog has been.  Over the past couple of months, we have been busily working to update our webpage.  Between that project and our Friends of deVille Golf Tournament, we haven't had time to blog! 

But we are back, however, the Hope Cottage blog has a new home.  Our blog is now hosted on our website at www.hopecottage.org/blog.  Thanks for following us and visit us at our new home and read our November posts - 30 Days of Gratitude. 

Thanks!

HopeCottage 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 have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721. 

 
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

Hope Cottage and Alley's House - Working to Address Teen Pregnancy

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.

 HH:  What can a pregnant/parenting teen mom expect when joining Alley’s House?

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 have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721. 

 

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

Picture Tuesday

Every Tuesday Hope Cottage, Dallas' oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian adoption agency shares pictures from its archives.  Enjoy!

HopeCottage 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 have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721. 

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.

Meet the Staff - Jennifer Terry

Jennifer Terry, LMSW

Calm, reassuring and supportive are just three of the words that come to mind when you want to describe Jennifer Terry, Infant Adoption Coordinator for Hope Cottage.  Jennifer earned her B.S. in Social Work from Texas Woman's University and her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Texas at Arlington.  Prior to coming to Hope Cottage three years ago, Jennifer also worked with victims of domestic violence and the mentally ill. 

As the Infant Adoption Coordinator, Jennifer supervises five employees and oversees all aspects of that program, including counseling and education for Waiting to Adopt Families and Pregnancy Services for Birthfamilies. 

When we asked Jennifer what she liked to do in her spare time, she said "with two children under two years of age, there is no such thing as spare time!"  She does enjoy spending time with her family and if it can be near a beach or in the water - that makes it even sweeter.  In fact, Jennifer once scuba dived in a six million gallon indoor aquarium at Disney World-Epcot.  That aquarium is the world's second largest aquarium and is filled with brown sharks, manatees, sting rays and even a 600 pound grouper!

Jennifer says the best part of working at Hope Cottage is being part of the process of building families through adoption.  Jennifer brings a special skill set to that process - she herself is an adoptee. 

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 have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721. 

 

If you are a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy and would like to talk to someone about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 1.800.944.4464 or 214.404.4546.

Picture Tuesday - January 24, 2011

Every Tuesday Hope Cottage (Dallas' oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian adoption agency) shares pictures from its files.  This week's pictures are from Jacob Hinckley's Eagle Scout project.  Jacob and his fellow scouts built two benches and finished out the Hope Cottage Memorial Garden at our offices.  Thanks Scouts!

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 have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721.

If you are a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy and would like to talk to someone about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 1.800.944.4464 or 214.404.4546.

Promotions at Dallas Adoption Agency Hope Cottage

Brooks Quinlan, LMSW

We are so excited about two recent promotions at Hope Cottage.  Hope Cottage recently promoted Brooks Quinlan, LMSW, former Director of Training and Counseling, to the position of Director of Program Services. In addition Jennifer Terry, LMSW was promoted to Family Services Coordinator.

Brooks has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama and his undergraduate degree is in Sociology/Psychology from the University of South Alabama.  Before joining Hope Cottage a year ago, Brooks was at the Alabama Post Adoption Connections. He has also served as a Post Adoption Specialist/United Kingdom/England with West Berkshire Council Family Placement Team and as a Detention Reform Initiative Coordinator with the Mobile County Juvenile Court.  Brooks oversees all aspects of our adoption programming and training.

Jennifer Terry, LMSW

Jennifer has been with Hope Cottage for more than two years and holds a B.S. in Social Work from Texas Women’s University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Before Hope Cottage, Jennifer was at New Beginnings Domestic Violence Shelter.  Jennifer works with birth mothers and waiting to adopt families. 

Hope Cottage is the oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian adoption agency in Dallas. Since 1918, Hope Cottage has been nurturing and building families through education, counseling and adoption services.

If you have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721. 

If you are a woman facing a crises pregnancy and would like to talk to someone about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 1.800.944.4464 or 214.404.4546.