Statements
Mission
Hope Clinic for Women fulfills a unique mission in our community: to equip women, men and families with unplanned pregnancies, women's healthcare, prevention education, pregnancy loss (miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, infant death , failed adoption/IVF) and postpartum depression. We provide medical care, professional counseling, education classes, case management, spiritual mentorship, and material support regardless of race, religion, age, or ability to pay. In 1983, Hope Clinic for Women began addressing the unmet needs of our community. Since then, we have established a strong reputation among clients, donors, and volunteers. Because of our approach we reach a diverse group of clients who cross political, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Background
Hope Clinic for Women was founded in 1983 by a group of community leaders, pastors, priests, physicians, and volunteers to meet the unique needs of women in unplanned pregnancies in a safe and confidential environment. For 38 years, we have continued that care while also broadening services to comprehensively meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of many women. 1983, began by offering pregnancy tests, options counseling by trained lay volunteers and free maternity and baby items. 1985, added post-abortion counseling services. 1998, developed abstinence education programs for public and private schools. 2001, hired a part-time Nurse Practitioner to provide ultrasounds, prenatal education and STD testing. 2007, added a male therapist to counsel the fathers of the baby and the parents of the pregnant woman. 2008, we opened a maternity home for pregnant women to live before and after delivery. The program is now in partnership with Urban Housing Solutions and other housing agencies. 2008, shifted all counseling services to professional counselors on staff or master's level interns. 2008, began utilizing trained volunteers to serve as mentors for clients. 2009, developed the Pregnancy 'Bridge' program to encompass counseling, mentorship, and education with incentives for material assistance. 2009, expanded professional counseling to all forms of pregnancy loss including miscarriage, stillbirth, failed adoption/IVF, and infant death. 2009, added counseling for postpartum depression and anxiety. 2014, switched to EMR (electronic medical records) and expand services to Williamson County. 2016, began offering counseling through video options similar to Skype for those who cannot get to Nashville location. 2016, began offering full women's wellcare visits for women with our Nurse Practitioners, overseen by Medical Doctors on our board. 2017, we began offering pregnancy related classes online and expect to expand our library to our core 10 classes in 2018. 2017, we began offering texting as a way to communicate to clients during office hours and in the evenings/weekends. 2019, added a mobile services team to reach populations who might otherwise not come into our clinic including populations experiencing homelessness. In 2020, we re-vamped our post-abortion care to include a support group available virtually and in-person.
Impact
For the last 38 years, Hope Clinic has been the premier place for women in unplanned pregnancies to go for comprehensive care: medical care, professional counseling, education classes, case management, mentorship, and practical support. In the last two decades, services have grown to include prevention education for youth and parents, women's well-care visits, all forms of pregnancy loss counseling and postpartum depression treatment. We treat everyone regardless of age, race, religion, or ability to pay. Our compassionate care ensures that both our clients and their babies are physically healthier and that women and their partners are emotionally healthier, making positive choices for their future. Accomplishments in our 2020-2021 Fiscal Year included: Providing care to over 2,400 unique clients through onsite, virtual, and offsite care and we supported to their partners, spouses, parents and families who joined them on visits. Over 840 pregnant families were helped (a 25% increase from the prior year), over 550 women received reduced cost preventative women's healthcare through annuals and problem visits, over 100 counseling clients came in for pregnancy loss, postpartum depression, and individual counseling related services. Over 600 unique individuals were educated with our Relationship Education program from 42 different locations. 100% of clients surveyed: felt treated with respect and would return for follow-up services, over 96% would refer a friend. 100% of clients surveyed felt more informed. 98% of clients surveyed would make healthier life choices. We continue to see our clients choose health through our education classes, mentorship, and case management. Received $1,400,000 in cash-based donations from over 800 unique donors. We recorded over $182,000 in donated maternity and baby items. This monetary partially due to our 18-year tenured CEO's farewell push, allowed us to pay off our mortgage and making Hope Clinic officially debt free with over $250,000 in our endowment fund! Primary Goals for 2020-2021 (not an exhaustive list): Provide 720 Pregnancy Tests with 80% of returning clients to receive an ultrasound or follow-up visit. Of the 372 women we hope to provide Bridge Program assessments to, we hope 50% will join the program. We aim to provide 200 initial counseling assessments with 140 intakes, and offer various ways to participate in our post-abortion support group. Prevention Education: Educate 1100 youth, parents, and youth workers in the community including homeschool families, parents, and educators. Lastly, we aim to serve 720 women through well-woman exams and problem visits.
Needs
We need time, talents and treasures. Hope Clinic has managed an incredible client growth with a minimal amount of operating increase. This is largely due to the wonderful commitment of faithful work study students, interns, practicum students, and volunteers. Nearly 8,000 hours are donated to our clients each year. We need women AND men of all ages (typically 25 or older) to serve either with our clients or behind the scenes. Also, 96% of our budget comes from the donations we receive. Our pregnancy services are completely free, from the clients' first visit through approximately the child's first year of life. Medical Care is provided for a nominal fee and counseling is offered on a sliding scale. $450 is the cost for a women to be enrolled in our parenting program for a year. It takes financial donations of all sizes to meet this budget. Our pregnancy clients earn points to receive much needed clothing and material support during and after their pregnancy, so in-kind donations are always in demand. And finally, we have many expenses that could be eliminated if a donor wanted to donate their time to cover an area that is currently paid for. There are many ways for donors of all capacities to support this work.
CEO Statement
I began serving at Hope Clinic for Women in 2018 as a new-comer to Nashville, but with a strong heart for the work of this ministry. I served as Development Director for three years when the 18-year tenured CEO, Renee Rizzo, announced her succession plan. Through a thoroughly vetting process of internal and external candidate the board gave me the opportunity to lead this incredible organization, fulfilling a dream and goal I have had for my life since I was 16 years old. It is daunting to step into leadership for an organization that has nearly 40 years of amazing stories and legacy to uphold. I am leaning into the commitment of the three executives who have come before me as I spearhead Hope Clinic in this new season. This organization is posed in an incredible position to continue to making a lasting impact in this community and beyond. I am honored to focus on strengthening our team, exchanging donor rapport, and re-affirming our community partnerships.
Service Categories |
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Primary Category: | Human Services - Pregnancy Centers |
Secondary Category: | Health Care - Reproductive Health Care |
Tertiary Category: | Health Care - Health Care NEC |
Areas Served
TN - Cheatham |
TN - Davidson |
TN - Maury |
TN - Montgomery |
TN - Robertson |
TN - Rutherford |
TN - Smith |
TN - Sumner |
TN - Williamson |
TN - Wilson |