Most child welfare services are managed by individual states, so the laws, policies, and fees you experience may differ from what’s shown here. All of these organizations serve Tennessee, but some of them serve several states. I hope these resources provide you with a good starting point, but you must ultimately conduct your own research based on applicable laws and where you live.
Department of Children’s Services, Tennessee (DCS)
The Department of Children’s Services is the authority when it comes to adoption and foster care. Private agencies must contract with DCS to provide their services. The Department has more children in their care than any agency does, and fostering or adopting through DCS may streamline the process of applying and getting a child in your home. However, many agencies also provide support networks to help new foster and adoptive parents manage their home dynamics. Don’t underestimate the value of a strong support network.
Despite being underfunded and shortstaffed, working directly with DCS can be a wonderful experience. I have been through TN KEY training with DCS and a private agency; in both cases, the training was thorough and rewarding. The noticeable difference is that the agency would arrange for respite care (babysitting) and provide other resources, whereas with DCS, you’ll need to lean on your own network of friends and family for that kind of support.
America’s Kids Belong
Operating in multiple states, America’s Kids Belong empowers leaders in government, faith-based, business, and creative sectors to end the crisis for kids in foster care—state by state.
. For faith-based communities, America’s Kids Belong encourages WRAP teams. Many churches already have WRAP ministries in place to support foster, kinship, and adoptive families in their communities. The WRAP program provides support by adding structure and intentionality to caring for these families. Volunteers request—and are assigned—roles working with a specific family to provide respite care (babysitting), meal trains, prayer, material needs, and other forms of support. Read more about WRAP, and request additional information from Tennessee Kids Belong.
AGAPE (Nashville, TN)
AGAPE is a licensed adoption agency providing adoption, foster care, domestic violence care, and counseling services in Davidson County, Tennessee and surrounding areas. The mission: Strengthening children and families with the healing love of Christ through counseling and social services.
AGAPE provides foster care for children from birth through 17 years old.
Mercy Multiplied (Nashville, TN)
Mercy Ministries started in 1983 to provide alternative solutions to abortion for young women with seemingly no other options. Today, the renamed Mercy Multiplied offers even more care for both women and men, including providing adoption services when pregnant residents choose not to parent. As a licensed adoption agency in Tennessee, Mercy Multiplied provides infant adoptive placement and has participated in 150+ adoptions over the past 30 years. Contact the Director of Adoptions, Chelsea Rahbar, to ask about adopting through Mercy Multiplied.
Youth Villages
Founded in 1986 in Memphis, Youth Villages is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with emotional and behavioral problems and their families live successfully.
The organization provides behavioral health care for kids ages 6 to 17, adoption for kids ages 5 to 18, and foster care services. Youth Villages has 94 locations in 24 states, providing a wide range of other services for children, youth, and familes.
Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services, a global nonprofit organization, supports children and families through a variety of services, including foster care, adoption, pregnancy support, family strengthening, and refugee services. Bethany’s compassionate and professional staff work with families to provide the support they need to overcome challenges and build a better future.