“At Beginnings, we believe that our connections to one another are our greatest strength.  We believe in creating a space for everyone where families can imagine what is possible together.”             

Amanda Baigent, MSW, RSW, Executive Director

Beginnings provides counselling and support to expectant parents experiencing unplanned pregnancies and assists people wishing to grow their families through adoption and embryo services.

WHAT ANCHORS OUR WORK

Beginnings honours our roots in the Christian faith, reflected in the intentions of our founders to carry out the work of serving those most vulnerable. Offering hope and practical assistance to pregnant women and families in crisis while prioritizing the dignity and inclusion of all people is the foundation of our work. From the inception of our organization, Beginnings has sought to be a place where the essence of faith can be seen in the expression of compassion and love.

In the words of one of our founders Rev. Arie VanEek, Beginnings is about “building strong families and instilling faith and values for the next generation.” 

Beginnings core values hold us accountable to doing what is right – advocating for those who are vulnerable and building connections, for families to grow together.

Compassionate Connections – We value a safe and supportive community that promotes understanding, acceptance and self-determination. Our birth parent and adoption counsellors work hard to ensure families receive critical and timely assistance so that expectant mothers, families in crisis and prospective adoptive families are provided with the care and support needed. Our embryo program counsellors strive to meet the needs of embryo donors, recipients and fertility clinics to support the success of their chosen plans.

Communication – We believe in open communication as the foundation of our work and this is a key component of our counselling, adoption and embryo programs. We value building lasting connections by facilitating an open dialogue around the needs of individuals and families as they plan for the future.

Diversity, Equity, and Belonging – We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth. Beginnings welcomes people of diverse identities including race and ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, range of abilities, and socioeconomic status.

Professionalism – The history of social work is rooted in faith, and in the desire to engage and support community needs, promote social change, and empower individuals in their overall wellbeing. We are a team of qualified staff, counsellors and social workers who adhere to stringent guidelines and legislative requirements in our work including: The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service
Workers, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and the Ontario Human Rights code. We are licensed to facilitate adoptions by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and we follow the Assisted Human Reproduction Act regulations. Continuous review and improvement of our programs and services requires knowledgeable, experienced and hardworking professionals and we are grateful for the dedicated team at Beginnings.