MISSION
S.A.F.E. aims to provide a safe, affirming, family environment where families and children are supported through the power of community, nature, kindness, acceptance and education. S.A.F.E. is a rescource to foster parents, foster youth, and local foster agencies and organizations serving at-risk youth and families.
VISION
S.A.F.E.'s vision includes 1) educating the community on the desperate need of foster parents in Middle Tennessee 2) connecting those individuals or couples interested in fostering with the Department of Child Services to learn more and begin their journey of certification 3) offering a physical space and location for foster youth, foster families, foster agencies and other organizations and families in need to meet 4) offering programming and sponsoring various events for foster youth, foster families, foster agencies and other organizations.
STATS
Children enter foster care because their birth families cannot care for them safely. As per AdoptUsKids.org, on average, there are approximately 7,500 children in foster care and around 350 children in full guardianship (available for adoption) in Tennessee who don’t have an identified adoptive home. Approximately 1,000 children age out of care in Tennessee every year.
FORK & VINE MASQUERADE
Where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going
As the Founder and Board Chair of SAFE, I wanted to give an update on our organization. For those who have been following SAFE's journey, it's been filled with many twist and turns. SAFE started as a drop-in center for homeless youth. We had 60-70 young people coming in our doors, serving them meals and providing life skill training with guest professionals in the community. It was an eye opening experience. We discovered that most of these youth attributed being homeless to 'aging out' of foster care. Essentially, they had been in the foster system and turned 18. At 18, they are considered an adult and no longer qualify for state services in foster care. They do qualify for Extension of Foster Care (EFC), but to stay in EFC, they have to go to a trade school or college (FREE tuition for any state college). Less than 5% of foster youth actually take advantage of this benefit.
When my family moved to Tennessee, rather than opening another drop-in center for homeless youth, we chose to follow the data. We decided to shift to programming that could reach and support foster youth PRIOR to aging out, educating them on their options and benefits. Perhaps this could help prevent the homelessness that so many foster youth experience. We also realized how little foster families are supported and how something as simple as providing Easter baskets for a foster family could have a huge impact and support these foster parents who are called to this service. We also discovered many foster children have never experienced being celebrated on their birthday. Through our Foster Country Birthday Bash events, we provide a free Birthday party for a foster child and sponsor a birthday party at a location of the child’s choice, whether it be a trampoline park, Chuck-E-Cheese, Dave & Busters, Kings Bowling, or at GratiDude Ranch with our petting zoo and pony rides. READ MORE…
