Every Child deserves a safe and loving home. In Tennessee, over 8,000 children are in state custody and need foster care. These children come from difficult situations, and foster care gives them the chance to heal and grow.
In 2024, Tennessee had around 5,000 foster homes available, but more are needed. That’s where the Every Child TN program comes in. Every Child TN mobilizes Tennesseans to support children and families before, during, and after foster care. It works through partnership with agencies like the Tennessee Department of Children Services (DCS), faith groups, and advocates across the state. Together, they focus on four main goals: keeping families together, recruiting new foster families, supporting current foster families, and helping young people who are aging out of foster care.
In 2024, Every Child TN made a lot of progress. By the end of November, it had received 1,297 inquiries from people interested in fostering and 835 inquires from volunteers. Through these efforts, the program has helped meet the needs of 568 children.
Foster care is about more than providing a home, its about offering hope, safety, and the chance for a brighter future. With the help of Every Child TN, Tennesseans are stepping up to make a difference in these children’s lives.
If you’re interested in fostering a child or learning more about becoming a foster parent for Tennessee children, please fill out this form or call (615) 920- 2596. You can also go to the DCS website to find training for prospective foster parents. To read more about the challenges faced by youth aging out of foster care and how you can help, visit Belmont’s Innovation Lab Study.
Every child deserves a community that cares. In Tennessee, countless lives are touched when communities come together to support foster care. By stepping up whether as a foster parent, volunteer, or a supporter, you can make a life-changing impact. Each effort, big or small, has the power to make a lasting impact of the children and families who need it most.