Hopeful Beginnings
Nonprofit adoption, perinatal mental health, and family support.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | $10.0k | Grant | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Hopeful Beginnings, which also operates as St. Mary's Services, is a nonprofit organization based in the Chicagoland area dedicated to supporting women, children, and families. Founded in 1887 by the Episcopal Sisters of St. Mary, the agency initially assisted low-income women and children on Chicago's south side, functioning as an orphanage and shelter. Over the decades, its focus evolved to include foster care in the 1950s and then a primary concentration on adoption. In 2017, the organization began doing business as Hopeful Beginnings to reflect its expanded mission. The organization is now led by Executive Director Natalie Rodriguez.
The organization operates as a licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, serving all families without prejudice, regardless of religion, income, race, or orientation. Its primary services revolve around adoption, offering comprehensive support for both birth parents and adoptive families. This includes options counseling for women with unplanned pregnancies, legal assistance, and guidance through the home study and placement process. The agency is a strong advocate for open adoption, believing it is in the best interest of children to maintain a relationship with their biological families. In addition to adoption, Hopeful Beginnings provides a range of family support services, such as case management, access to free baby supplies, and programs for teen parents. A significant area of focus is perinatal mental health, offering free counseling for individuals experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety, grief from pregnancy loss, and difficulties adjusting to parenthood.
Keywords: adoption services, perinatal mental health, unplanned pregnancy counseling, family support services, nonprofit organization, foster care, maternal mental health, open adoption, postpartum depression support, parenting resources, child welfare, family counseling, Illinois adoption agency, Chicagoland nonprofit, teen parenting program, birth parent support, adoptive family services, crisis pregnancy support, community case management, infant adoption