Hope Families

Congratulations to our Newest Hope Families

Eric and Kim - Ava
Curtis and Katie - Charlee
Derrick and Nicole - Stephanie
Kim and Rose - James   

The Director's Diary

Sonyia Hartwell, MSSW

When the Board of Directors hired me to be the CEO at Hope Cottage in 2009, one of the concerns they expressed was about lost connections and a desire for re-engagement. They were referring to the thousands of people whose lives have been touched by Hope Cottage since 1918. The number of children adopted exceeds 12,000. That means that there are 24,000 parents and unknown numbers of step-parents and siblings. Currently, the grand-daughter of a Hope Baby serves on our board.

After a year of planning with some key stakeholders and many hours of discussion, 2012 will see the formation of The Hope Cottage Heritage Society for family members touched by adoption through Hope Cottage. The society will play a critical role in the continued and sustaining role of Hope Cottage in adoption services as well as a social context for families who shared such a joyous experience to remain connected. Every strong organization has a committed auxiliary of people dedicated to the long term viability of that organization and its mission. Society members will commit to: 

• Advocate for the compassionate choice of Adoption
• Educate friends, family and colleagues about Hope Cottage
• Celebrate the legacy of joy and family that adoption brought to their lives 

We want you to join. The tax deductible annual membership is $100. Join before March 15 and you will forever be included in the list of founding members. And then we want you to mark March 29 on your calendar for The Hope Cottage Heritage Society Founders Reception at 6 p.m. (details to follow) that will be open to all who have joined by that date. This is the first of two events planned for society members this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

The largest group in many years assembled at Hope Cottage on Sunday December 4, 2011 for the 94th Annual Holiday Reunion Party.  More than 170 Hope Babies, their family members and friends gathered for food, entertainment by the Youth Choir from Park Cities Baptist Chuch and, of course,  visits with Santa.  Do you think  the youngest Hope Baby (two and half months) will remember being held by the oldest Hope Baby (84 years "young")?

Read a party recap by our own Elf on the Shelf, Hope.   

Can we count on you to give the gift of HOPE?

Because you offer HOPE

...a pregnant woman will have a safe place to stay

...an unborn baby will receive prenatal care

 ...a child will receive the permanent, loving home he or she deserves. 

Donate Now!
 

Ensure our legacy continues by   remembering Hope Cottage in your estate plans.  For more information, contact Leslie Clay, Chief Development Officer at lclay@hopecottage.org or 214.526.8721, ext 242. 

Grab some grub and help children in Foster Care

find their forever families

Food Truck Extravaganza

 Thursday April 12, 2012 

Hope Cottage 

Dallas, TX 75205

(corner of Fitzhugh and McKinney)   

A portion of the sales will benefit Hope Cottage Foster to Adopt Programming - finding forever families for children in foster care.   

Not sure what happens at a Food Truck Extravaganza?  Call Leslie at 214.536.8721, ext 242 or email her.

Nancy Bowen, JD, LMSW and Lindsey Barnes have both recently joined Hope Cottage.  Ms. Bowen is part of the Infant Adoption Team and Ms. Barnes works with families in the Foster to Adopt program.  We also welcome three interns to Hope Cottage.    Read more about these women on the Hope Cottage Blog.  

Kathryn Sherwood (L) Taylor Thomas (R) Libby Burfoot (B)

Nancy Bowen, JD, LMSW

Lindsey Barnes

Heritage Society Members 

An Adoption Story - Steven, Julie and Chloe

 Julie and Steven Saal wanted to build a family and for them that meant a trip down "Adoption Road". Julie chronicled their journey in her blog Life Is Simple, It's Just Not Easy.  What happened to the Saals on their trip until their daughter, Chloe, was born in February 2010? And what has life been like since Chloe was placed in their arms?

Adoption Road for the Saals started with the usual whirlwind of paperwork, home studies and profile making. And going public with their decision to adopt. As happens to many adopting parents, people will often say "Oh, so you have stopped trying to have a baby." Steven put it very succinctly "we did not stop trying to have a baby. We are still trying to have a baby. We are trying to adopt."

The Saals were approved to adopt in June 2009 and began the waiting game. In July their profile was shown to a birthmother who ultimately placed her child with a relative. Julie summed up the adoption process as "It isn't all excitement. It is excitement, stress, worry, joy, fear, helplessness, happiness, anxiety...". But through it all, the couple maintained their sense of humor as evidenced by a  picture of Julie at CVS standing by the "Parking Reserved for Expectant Mothers" sign.

In January 2010, the Saals were matched with a birth mother who was carrying a boy, due at the end of February. The nursery is decorated. A baby name is chosen and then what every adoptive parent knows can happen and prays doesn't happen, happened. The baby Steven and Julie had been matched with is born early in February and at the last minute, the birth mother decides to parent. Julie wrote "I want to move forward. I need to move forward, but I just can't".

On February 18th the Saal's social worker called and requested the couple send another copy of their adoption profile to Hope Cottage. A baby girl had been born in January and her birth mother wanted to place the baby for adoption. Guarding their hearts, Julie and Steven send Hope Cottage their profile. They don't allow themselves to hope or have any expectations. Joy soon abounds. On February 28th that little baby girl comes home with mom and dad.

In January of this year, Steven wrote a simply wonderful blog entry about his take on adoption. He said adoption was never second best, it was their second choice. He shares his thoughts on the failed match. He says he always thought he wanted to have a son, until he had a daughter. Every adoptive or waiting to adopt parent should read what Steven had to say.

Chloe

Summer Picnic

Annual Founders Day Picnic

is moving up a month!

Please make a note of the new date

Sunday MAY 6, 2012
2 - 4 pm  

Hope Cottage 

4209 McKinney Avenue

Dallas, TX  75205

 Make your reservation on the Hope Cottage website.  

February 28         Infant Adoption 101 at Woman 2 Woman, Denton

                          Infant Adoption 101 at Safe Haven of Tarrant County
March 6               Monthly Training for Foster to Adopt Families
                           Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Hebron Freshman Center

March 9               ABC's of Adoption Presentation, Hebron High School
March 22             Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Naaman Forest High School
March 23             Understanding Infant Adoption at Dallas WIC offices

March 28             Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Winfree Academy

March 29             Hope Cottage Heritage Society Event

March 31             Adoption Education Seminar
April 2                 Adoption Education Presentation at Giving Texas Children Promise

April 12                Food Truck Extravaganza

April 14                Foster to Adopt Parenting Training

April 16                Foster to Adopt Parenting Training
April 17                ABC's of Adoption Presentation, Hebron High School

April 18                Board of Directors Meeting

April 21                Foster to Adopt Parenting Training

April 24                Understanding Infant Adoption at Parkland Family Planning Clinics
May 2                  Teen Mentoring and Prevention at Hope Cottage for Parents and Teens

May 6                  Annual Founders Day Picnic
May 8                  Monthly Training for Foster to Adopt Families
May 11                Parent's Night Out

May 15                Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Winfree Academy

May 16                Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Winfree Academy

May 17                Teen Mentoring and Prevention Presentation, Winfree Academy                         
May 24                Infant Adoption 101 for Professionals

September 21-23  Camp Hope