I was a pregnant teenager who needed a rainbow of hope. My circumstances and my age were against me. I had to make a decision. Would I raise my child on my own or have him raised by a couple who were ready; waiting to be blessed with a child through adoption?

 In 1984, I met my son again. He was 19. We had lived our lives separated by time and distance and closed adoption but still there was a bond. It was the mother- to-child bond of love; the same bond of love that guided my decision. It was like I had to allow my heart to be broken so I could give my son a future filled with hope.

Over time, my heart became more and more healed.  I knew ‘closed adoption’ did not seem right. There had to be a better way. So, 20 years ago Hope Services was set up. I immediately became a pioneer for ‘Open Adoption’. We started to provide practical support and encouragement to others with an unintended pregnancy that felt like a crisis. In time, Hope Services became a licesensed adoption agency.

Today, I have a team that works with me. They are women who have personally had the shock of finding out they were pregnant; wishing it was a bad dream that would go away. Click here for personal stories of Birth Parent Team.

Our team is here to guide and support through professional services. Sometimes family members and/or the partner of the woman who is pregnant asks for support, too. We do make services available to these people, however, we must maintain confidentiality and our first responsibility is to the mother and her child.

Planning for your child’s future may be the most difficult thing you will deal with. Be well informed before making any decisions. This will help in living a lifetime with such important choices.

Ann Welwood, Registered Clinical Counsellor
Director of Programs and Client Services

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”   Psalm 94:18-19