Hope Cottage Inc

Programs: Infant adoption and pregnancy services: hope cottage pregnancy clients receive case management, emotional support and guidance to help them plan the best possible future for themselves and thier infants whether they choose to parent or choose adoption. Hope cottage provides information and referrals to pregnancy clients and direct assistance for housing, food, clothing and other basic needs as resources are available. Pregnant clients and mothers who have children under two years of age may participate in group classes in addition to individual counseling. Clients may receive life skills training, parenting classes, lactation education and other services to help them as new parents. All pregnant and parenting clients are eligible to receive direct client assistance for basic needs for themselves and their children. 2017 pregnancy clients=389families who adopt through hope cottage infant adoption program are required to complete education hours prior to being accepted; fees are charged on a sliding scale based on family income. Post adoption services are available to adoptees and their adoptive and birth families at low or no cost. 2017 infant adoption families=322017 infants placed for adoption=172017 post adoption clients=2792017 post adoption group participants=627

foster to adopt services: hope cottage contracts with texas department of family and protective services to screen and verify families to provide foster care with a goal of adoption for children from ages 0-17 who have been removed by the state from their birth parents due to neglect and/or abuse. Hope cottage monitors the progress of children through the adoption process and supports them and their foster parents through home visits, office visits and telephone contact. 2017 children placed in foster to adopt homes=552017 number of foster families=262017 days of care for children in foster to adopt homes=11,962

educational services: youth and teen education provides character training classes in high schools and at organizations for pregnant and parenting teens. Tmap (teen mentoring and prevention) educates at risk teens to avoid behaviors that can lead to incarceration, child abuse, neglect and a life of poverty. The abc's of adoption is an adoption awareness and intervention program for middle school and high school students to communicate the realities and challenges of teen parenting. Relationship smart plus is curricula based training to help teens form healthy relationships. 2017 tmap participants=2,0862017 abc's participants=1,4922017 rsplus participants=10,397infant adoption awareness training provides health care professionals serving pregnant women with knowledge, skills and information necessary to discuss adoption as an option when treating women with unplanned pregnancies. This professional training is accredited for nursing and social workers ceu's. 2017 participants=990