About the Nonprofit
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We believe that every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving home with a safe caregiver. Sadly, that is not the case for some children in our area. Many children are placed into foster care when they are not safe. Currently, there aren't even enough foster homes in Tennessee for all of the children who need to be in foster care. Foster parents often feel tired and alone. Most families foster for less than a year, citing burnout and lack of support as the reason why they stop. At the same time, 85% of people who are not foster parents say they care about vulnerable children and want to help. By meeting practical needs and providing holistic support beyond the system, Foster Village bridges the gap between foster families and caregivers and those who want to help.
We strive to fulfill our mission through three pillars: Equip, Connect, and Advocate.
Equip: We provide welcome packs for families when they receive a new placement. A welcome pack consists of five new outfits, pajamas, socks, underwear or diapers and wipes, a blanket, book, toy/activity, and toiletries. We try to fulfill all special requests for cribs, car seats, beds, etc.
Additionally, we hold quarterly giveaways for all foster and kinship families to provide ongoing support. We have provided new shoes, new winter clothing and toiletries, and summer fun baskets.
Connect: This is a unique component of the Foster Village model. We provide monthly events for families to connect with other families on a similar journey, a caring community, and trusted resources. We host family events that provide food, fun, and fellowship for the whole family. We also host Caregiver Gatherings where we provide a meal and childcare, so that adult caregivers can have a chance to relax and recharge by connecting with others who understand the ups and downs of foster care. There is power in sitting in the same room with others who truly understand your situation.
Advocate: We always bring truth and awareness about the child welfare system into everything we do. Whether we are posting on social media, speaking to a group, or hosting a fundraiser we want to bring awareness. We believe that knowledge leads to awareness and awareness leads to action. Through these pillars we are striving to ensure that every child is placed in a safe home with a caregiver with whom they feel secure; we are supporting our current foster families and encouraging others to be involved with the child welfare system; and through advocacy we are addressing the root causes that often result in families becoming involved with the child welfare system.