Where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going
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 relocating SAFE 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 or Christmas stockings 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 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 a petting zoo.
As most know, as the Founder of SAFE, my family ended up living on a ranch in Franklin, TN, that we called GratiDude Ranch. We found ourselves owning a farm with animals; something we never imagined. Not only could we provide a space for families and children to come and experience a Safe, Affirming, Family Environment, but they could do so while enjoying 20+ farm pets, a petting zoo and the magic of the ranch that we have worked so hard to create. We started annual Egg Hunts, began offering free birthday parties to foster children, and we began doing day camps for foster teens, partnering with local agencies, educating foster youth on the aging out process and explaining and reviewing their benefits and options as they near 18 years of age. The camps were a huge success and the case workers noticed that teens seem to retain much more of the information in a setting such as the ranch, rather than simply sitting in front of a case manager in an office setting being told this information. We also began the conversation with 14-18 year olds, rather than them hearing their options at 17 1/2 (6 months before aging out). Who can make decisions in 6 months?
Our annual budget comes from our annual fundraising event, Fork & Vine. Funds from Fork & Vine continue to be used for our operating budget while supporting our current programming as we continue to invest in and grow our SAFE programs.
I stepped down as Executive Director in 2022 and handed over the baton to our Foster Birthday Bash coordinator, Angela Saunders, as the new Executive Director. She has and continues to be the heart of SAFE and does a phenomenal job continuing the vision and services of SAFE. I continue to serve as the Board Chair.
Establishing and sustaining a non-profit is not easy. We've had to pivot and the journey has had many detours, but when we see the smiles of the children who quite often have little reason to smile, and we wipe the tears of the foster parents and case workers who are truly trying to bring some light in to these little lives, it makes the journey well worth it.
Thank you for supporting SAFE over the years and thank you for your continued support. We can't do it without you. All donations are welcome and appreciated at www.supportsafe.org
