Here’s Why Foster Parents Need And Deserve Our Community’s Support
Foster families can go from two kids at the dinner table to five around the breakfast table – a transition that starts with a late-night phone call, followed by scared, sleepy kids showing up on the doorstep, and foster parents who will say “Yes,” to setting aside comfort and routine for a while to stand in the gap with vulnerable kids.
Sadly, nationwide nearly half of foster parents who go through the effort to become certified stop fostering within the first year, often due to a lack of social support.
Tennessee Kids Belong equips leaders in government, business, faith communities and civic organization to create a Foster Friendly state where the experience of foster families looks more like this:
- The governor, mayor and other political leaders prioritize “improving the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.”
- Faith and civic organizations show up with care packages and groceries when foster families take on a new placement
- Local restaurants offer discounts on children’s meals.
- Children in foster care enjoy discounts on practical needs like haircuts, school supplies and shoes; as well as such experiences as a photographic sitting, and area recreation and attractions.
building foster friendly communities
Foster Friendly Communities represent a transformative approach, uniting multiple sectors to create measurable, sustainable change for the foster care community. Together with local leaders, faith partners, and businesses, we are building safe, welcoming spaces where individuals and organizations recognize and respond to the unique needs of kids in foster care. We can play a role serving and supporting vulnerable children in Tennessee. Click each region to learn more about the work being done throughout our state.