Tennessee Kids Belong dramatically improves the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care. Throughout November, National Adoption Awareness Month, we focus our attention on kids in foster care who need permanent, adoptive families.
Our I Belong Project™ uplifts the stories and voices of kids in foster care who are legally free for adoption. The pop-up photo and video shoots take place monthly as part of an entire day designed for youth to have fun, play and just be kids. Every child’s story is treated with dignity and respect with the goal to connect each child with a family.
Since 2016 TKB, in partnership with The Department of Children’s Services, has filmed more than 800 children and helped connect more than 50% of those kids with their forever families.
The Importance of Belonging
Top 10 Social Wounds Experienced By Kids Who Age Out Of Foster Care
Approximately 1,000 youth age out of foster care in Tennessee each year. Aging out leaves a teen without the support, love and stability of a place to belong. Kids who age out of foster care experience an exponentially increased of homelessness, unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse, PTSD and other harmful outcomes. YOU CAN HELP!
Even if you aren’t called to adopt, you can DO SOMETHING!
How To Help
Foster Friendly Business
Here are some simple ways your business can support foster care and adoption this November.
Become a Foster Friendly business and join our Foster Friendly App by creating a special offer for area foster families. Your support is about so much more than a discount; it shows families that their work is seen, valued and supported by their community — and that can directly impact the high attrition rate among foster families.
SHARE
Share an I Belong Project video on social media to introduce kids in care to those in your networks.
CHAT
Host a Lunch & Learn to raise awareness; we’ll work to coordinate a meeting for your team.
ACT
Join our Foster Friendly App and create or update an offer for foster and kinship families.
Foster Friendly Faith
Here are some simple ways your faith community can support foster care and adoption this November.
Your community already has incredible systems in place to care for others well. You can start a WRAP ministry to encourage and help retain our community’s valuable kinship and foster families, host a Belong Sunday to educate and inspire your congregation, host a Giving Sunday to support TKB and more!
SHARE
Share an I Belong Project video on social media to introduce kids in care to those in your networks.
LEAD
Share stats and needs with small groups to empower them to wrap around foster families.
ACT
Host a Belong Sunday by collecting an offering or speaking about adoption in a service.