About Us ›› History & Background
Since 1983, Hope Clinic for Women has provided a safe, confidential place to deal with life choices regarding past, present and future pregnancies. We’ve comforted over 30,000 women in the Nashville area and celebrated over 5,000 births through education, counseling and medical care, regardless of their age, race or religion. We also have provided the majority of these services to our clients for free.
Our humble ministry opened its doors when a group of OB/GYNs, pastors, priests and other concerned individuals shared their compassion for women in unplanned pregnancies. They operated from a tiny, 450-square foot space, bringing hope and love to women in need. We began by listening to the needs of our clients, and we continue to listen to them, first and foremost, today. We began with free pregnancy tests, counseling and practical support and now have extended our services to include free ultrasounds, referral networks, and an ‘earning program’ that includes parenting and other related classes in exchange for practical items like baby formula, diapers, clothes, cribs and strollers. This program provides an opportunity for the women to feel empowered in their future and take responsibility for themselves and their baby.
God has blessed and grown our ministry to include counseling for women who experience grief from pregnancy loss; either from a past abortion, a miscarriage or adoption. Our counseling ministry continues to grow with a new male therapist and interns on staff to counsel the male partners of our clients and her parents. We now offer all of them extended individual, couples and family counseling.
Each year, we equip 5,000+ students with correct information about abstinence and making healthy related choices. Many people have the mis-perception that abstinence education is limited to ‘just say no’ but ours includes honest and accurate information about birth control and stds, while giving them the tools to make better decisions each day. While our prevention program began in 1998 geared to middle and high school students, we have grown this ministry to reach college students, young adults and even adult married and single people who are looking to be freed from current patterns that are result of past sexual choices.
In 2001, we became a medical clinic offering a variety of women’s related services. We have a full time nurse practitioner and medical volunteers helping us serve over 1,000 women each year, free for women under 19 and only $25 for those over 19. This is good for Nashville because we take extra time with all our clients to ensure they receive the most current medical information and counsel with them in any area they may be struggling in.
Our growth continues to increase as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. Early in 2008 we opened a satellite office to provide these same services to Brentwood, Franklin, Thompson Station and Spring Hill. In the fall of 2008, we will open a new home where pregnant clients may reside during their last trimester, and continue to live with their babies for the first nine months of their lives together. This lengthy stay for moms is the only home available within a 5 hour radius of Nashville and will provide us with an opportunity to help these women build a solid foundation for their own and their child’s future.
Our need for volunteers and funds continue to expand along with these growing services. Our budget is currently $1 million a year to reach over 10,000 women and men in Nashville. We have hundreds of male and female volunteers of all ages and the opportunities to partner with us are endless. We are supported 99% from philanthropy coming from churches, businesses, individuals and people like you. We hope that you investigate more about Hope Clinic for Women either by coming to one of our open houses or contacting us about opportunities to get involved. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your willingness to offer assistance to women and children in need. God Bless you.
