Be a foster parent and help a child find the way home

Right now in the state of Tennessee, there are hundreds of children waiting for foster homes. Youth Villages is a private organization working in partnership with the State of Tennessee Department of Children's Services to help children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. These children need caring families to give them a safe home and meet their emotional needs. Becoming a foster parent is one of the most rewarding ways to have a positive and long-lasting impact on a child.

Youth Villages foster care in Tennessee

Click a city below to find out more about being a foster parent in your community:

What is Youth Villages?

Youth Villages is a private, nonprofit organization that provides help to thousands of children with emotional and behavioral problems and their families each year through an array of programs and services. In Tennessee, Youth Villages offers foster care and adoption (including foster-to-adopt placement resources), in-home counseling, residential and intensive residential treatment, group homes, family-based support for children with developmental disabilities, transitional living services, crisis services and the Mid-South's only shelter for runaway and homeless teens.

Our mission is to help children and families live successfully. Our guiding value is that children are raised best by families. This includes foster families, with caring parents who provide a loving and safe home for children in need.

Who are the children Youth Villages helps?

The children served by Youth Villages face many challenges. Some are victims of abuse and neglect; others are medically fragile or have developmental delays, and many have emotional or behavioral problems. These children need the stability and care of a family to help them overcome their challenges and live successfully.

A child may stay in a foster home a few weeks or a few years. The average stay is 12 to 18 months. Each child and family is different and has different needs. Some children will go back to their birth home while others will be adopted.

Who can be a Youth Villages foster parent in Tennessee?

To be a foster parent at Youth Villages, you must:

• Be 25 years of age or older
• Be legally married or single -- if married you must have been married for at least one year
• Be a resident of the state of Tennessee and have a valid Tennessee driver's license
• Be employed or have viable income
• Have adequate space in your home
• Have a working automobile and auto insurance, as well as homeowner's or renter's insurance
• Complete the required training and certification process

What kind of support do Youth Villages' foster parents receive?

Our foster parents provide children with the kind of guidance, care and support all young people need. In return, Youth Villages offers a wide array of support.

Youth Villages provides:

• Free training
• Free therapy for child and family
• 24-hour on-call support for children and foster families
• Foster parent support groups
• Up to $18,500 per year tax-free reimbursement
• Foster parent appreciation events

What are the responsibilities of foster parents?

• Ensuring that the child attends counseling sessions and medical appointments
• Ensuring that the child attends school, monitoring progress and offering support
• Providing consistent, age-appropriate guidance
• Providing encouragement and support, and acting as a role model for the children in your home

How do you get started?

Contact your local foster parent recruiter, or come to the next foster parent informational meeting. These meetings require no commitment, and you'll learn everything you need to know about being a foster parent for Youth Villages. Click here to find your local recruiter's contact information.