As most know, 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?
Those who have followed and supported SAFE know that my passion and ultimate vision has always been providing housing for foster youth when they age out of foster care due to my personal experience of homelessness. So, in September of 2019, after operating SAFE on GratiDude Ranch for 4 years, we finally had an opportunity to launch a housing program. GratiDude Ranch purchased a neighboring property and SAFE leased a portion of the house, and we called it the SAFE HOUSE. We raised funds to build out and rehab the SAFE HOUSE, hired a foster mom, she moved in the house, we had our first two foster placements with two foster teens, and then COVID hit. It was the worst possible timing this could have happened. My dream, that I had shared as we toured the country for over a decade, in establishing a SAFE HOUSE for foster teens was suddenly derailed. The internet at the SAFE HOUSE was not sufficient to support four foster teens and a foster mom. The only option was satellite internet and it was limited to 100GB per month. There is no cell service at the house so we are dependent on WiFi calling for a cell phone to even work. The teens placed had to do school remote due to COVID. As many ways as we tried to find ways to keep the new housing program moving forward, we simply could not. The Board of Directors determined that we would terminate SAFE's lease for the SAFE HOUSE and GratiDude Ranch reimbursed SAFE's expenses in the property that had been raised by donors. Attorneys ensured this was done legally and fairly for all parties. In addition, an IRS Audit was completed on SAFE in 2022 and SAFE passed with flying colors.
Over the two years of living through COVID, SAFE's Board of Directors had the opportunity to explore the ways that we, as an organization, can best serve the most foster youth and foster families in our community. Rather than trying to relaunch the housing program with limited funds due to not hosting our fundraising event for two years because of COVID, the Board determined that the best and most supportive way to move forward as an organization is to expand our camp program which has proven to be a huge success.
We know the camps bring value to all involved; the foster teens, the foster families AND the foster agencies. We can also serve many more youth using the property for camps. Each of our camps host 15-20 foster teens. The SAFE HOUSE program only served 4 teens.
The Board has decided that our focus moving forward will be developing and planning SAFE Camps in collaboration with local and state agencies for foster teens and those youth/young adults in EFC (Extended Foster Care) also classified as IL (Independent Living).
Our annual budget comes from our annual fundraising event, Fork & Vine. Moving forward, the funds from Fork & Vine will continue to be used for our operating budget while supporting our current programming as we continue to invest in and grow our SAFE Camp program offering opportunities for foster youth to attend our camps at no cost.
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
