CPO Tulsa is a wonderful organization. It is full of caring people trying their very best to help women and children in their difficult times. Women are supported in their choice to place for adoption or parent a child. They offer counseling, support groups, a boutique to shop for supplies and much, much more for free to all who come through the program. I’ve been volunteering for them for over a decade and I’ve seen countless women and children get the help they need.
They have been a curse in my life as an birth mother it's like they take your child and say forget the after effect that it has on the birth mother. Once they have your child (probably sold) then forget the mother and the long lasting mental crisis she's going through. That money y'all donate is not helping anyone but their greedy rich life. If not could do it all over again I would but God says he will in return for faith give me back what is rightfully mine 10 fold. I suggest looking elsewhere or just keep your child. CPO is not what a birth mother stands for.
I strongly do not recommend. I came to this organization as young mom, many years ago, and it ended with my child being taken the second day that she was born and her developing a disorder because of the trauma of it all, not to mention my famiy and all families attached dealing with the trauma of it all. I want ppl to know and understand my story and what I had to endure and continue to endure as a direct result of participating in this program. They bought into my trust and used the information against me to have my child taken from me. There was no disclosure that this could be a possible outcome and it is illegal what they did. I am one voice, but my voice and experience matters. It was horrible and a traumatic event that no mother should have to experience when trying to celebrate new life. It should be a positive moment and memory. They have never tried to rectify the situation or apologize for the way that the director (at the time) chose to handle the situation all over a baby doll named Gracie and out of spite..when this is supposed to be a Christian organization. I am the only black woman that I know that attended this program and I am the only one that I am aware of that dealt with this level of treatment and betrayal from a company that was supposed to be there to help. Shame on them for what they did. God sees all. Disgusting.
CPO has been awesome in taking care of birth mothers and taking care of and training adoptive families like us to be equipped to be ready for what to expect with open adoption. They truly want to help women and children.
Great people moms group is really great don’t know what I would do without the support that cpo offers and continues to offer! Lost my son delivering twins emergency c section. I started classes while pregnant they are an amazing center non judge mental The only time you hear anything about religious Is the Director it doesn’t get shoved down your throat
Time, Talent, Treasure
About 35 years ago I found an organization that I feel is doing important work in our community. At the time, women who were pregnant out of marriage were given few choices and often had to 'go live with an aunt' to protect the family's reputation in their community. Fortunately this stigma has changed in our society, but the problems a woman faces in a crisis pregnancy have not.
When Crisis Pregnancy Outreach (www.cpotulsa.org) began in the early 1980s, many of the women who came to us were teenagers who did not want to have an abortion. Today, CPO works in coordination with local hospitals and operates a 24 hour hotline. The majority of woman we now serve are homeless; addicted to drugs/alcohol, gambling, or relationships; physically abused; and/or are totally alone.
What I love about CPO is that we make a lifetime commitment to these women. It is not just about the 9 months of pregnancy. This crisis brings women to CPO, but this is only the presenting problem. Our goal is to provide the services necessary to help women move forward out of a very difficult situation to live heathy, productive lives. CPO provides a plethora of programs, which include, living assistance (utilities, food, clothing); childbirth classes, educational and employment assistance, life skills seminars, medical care with a private physician and dentist, mentoring, parenting classes, transportation, weekly support groups, and a storage area with maternity/children clothes, child-rearing supplies (cribs, diapers, toys, et al), and furniture.
CPO facilitates a mentoring program that forms relationships between the CPO women and other women/mothers. These volunteers meet with them weekly and often incorporate them into their own family activities. The purpose of this relationship is to encourage healthy living, academic achievement, and generate educational and career interests. CPO began as a grassroots organization, but has continued to develop into a well-run organization where I am proud to volunteer.
Since the beginning, some of the women stay in volunteer homes, some continue to live on their own, but as we grew, CPO was also able to purchase a Transitional Home where up to eight woman at a time can live. This is a lovely residential home where the women are provided three meals a day, a study area, medicines, transportation to appointments, schooling, tutoring, counseling and mentoring. Once a birth mother is settled in, she is encouraged to begin advancing her education by going to school (high school, tech, or college) or taking the GED. She also is provided a personal, professional counselor who she can see at no charge. What a privilege it is to see women put into practice what they learn and become more self-sufficient. Many holding jobs for the first time and purchasing their first cars!
During the time the birth mother is pregnant, she makes a very difficult decision to raise or relinquish her child. If she chooses to relinquish her child, the mother looks through life-books submitted by the adoptive families and selects her baby’s family. These are open adoptions, which means she will have a relationship with the family and her child. Most years CPO facilitates 20 -30 adoptions. We offer programs for waiting/adoptive parents, conduct interviews and home visits, provide workshops, support groups, mentoring, and hosting for out-of-town families. It is so heartwarming to see the adoptive parents, the birth mother, and the child come to love and respect each other. It is a process that also requires lots of work and emotional risk on everyone's part, but CPO is committed to the children to provide for them a loving home AND the knowledge of where they came from.
In the last few years, more women are choosing to parent as single mothers. CPO has expanded our services to meet the many needs of these women to provide healthy, safe homes for their children. We teach classes to prepare her to be intentional in her child-rearing practices; we help her get started living on her own; and CPO continues to provide counseling and support groups for as long as the mother is willing to attend. Many CPO women stay in Tulsa and continue counseling, attend parenting classes/small groups, finish their education, and become part of the CPO community -- helping each other. We now have children who were born with CPO who are in their 30s. What a joy to see the adults they have become and to know that we have played a small part in giving them a positive future.
Finally, what I love about CPO, and why I am willing to invest my time, talent, and treasure with this organization is that it is 100% volunteer. In 35 years, no one has received a salary. All the monies raised go directly to helping women and children and the tangible expenses to run the office and the transitional home. What a privilege to watch these many loving, talented and dedicated women come alongside another woman in crisis and walk with her through one of the most traumatic times in her life. Many are available 24 hours a day to go to the hospital, answer the hotline, provide transportation, baby showers, and events for the children. Many of these volunteers have been with CPO for 10 - 25 years, a few for all 35 years. They are seasoned, loving women who understand the unique struggles of being a young woman in a crisis situation. My role has been small compared to the sacrifices of their time, talents, and treasure; nevertheless, I have reaped a deep sense of hope for our future as I watch lives changed for the better with CPOs caring human touch.
Review from #MyGivingStory