Churches play a crucial support role in their communities, which means they’re often in the perfect position to help end their local child welfare crisis. While there is still a lot of work to be done in organizing these efforts, many places of worship are learning about the crisis and getting involved. In Tennessee, we partner with the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI). They implemented Every Child TN last year, which provides faith-based foster care support through nonprofits and churches. With help from our partners, CarePortal and The Contingent, Every Child TN covers the entire lifespan of foster care: recruiting ideal foster families before, providing support during, and helping achieve permanency for children after. Churches play a key role in this initiative as local points of contact who build lasting relationships with families. One church in the Every Child TN program perfectly embodied this mission when they made a massive difference for a mother working hard to reunify with her children in foster care.
On the Way to Reunification
In late February 2025, a social worker submitted a request for help on behalf of a single mom in Maury County. She was starting over and had been working hard to reunify with her children in foster care. To continue the process, the mother needed essential household items to create a safe, stable environment for her children. With a baby on the way, the requested items included:
- Bunk bed and twin bed with bedding
- Bathroom mats, shower curtain, towels, washcloths, and hand towels
- Toiletries for teenage boys
- Kitchen table and chairs for six
- Microwave
- Baby items
The social worker highlighted this mother’s resilience and positive attitude despite her incredibly challenging circumstances. She constantly proved her dedication to bringing her children home, she just needed help to get there. Thankfully, her wait didn’t last long. Station Hill Church had joined the Every Child TN initiative to serve their community, and they quickly took action.
Faith-Based Foster Care Support through Every Child TN
Kelly, a responder from Station Hill Church, saw the mother’s request come through and knew they could lend a hand. Station Hill Church took the helm and covered the cost, using funds donated by a local nonprofit. They also coordinated with two other local churches to fulfill the full request—an example of the strong community partnerships built over time through Every Child TN. Together, they sourced Items from multiple retailers and delivered them to the family. A kitchen table was purchased at a reduced price from a local small business and delivered by volunteers.
Beth, one of the volunteers, communicated directly with the mother to coordinate delivery and confirm preferences for her children’s items. This allowed the mom to select colors and designs that her children would enjoy. The first delivery arrived on March 24, 2025, followed shortly by the remaining items from Station Hill Church. In addition to the items delivered, Beth connected the mother with the Maury County diaper program. But Station Hill didn’t stop there. They plan to use remaining funds to assist with either a car down payment or additional baby supplies as needed. All of this brings this mom closer to reunifying with her children, the ideal result of foster care.
After seeing how many people came to her aid, the mother expressed deep gratitude not only for the practical items but also for the care and support from multiple community members. This effort helped meet immediate needs and also provided meaningful connections and long-term support for a parent working toward reunification. The impact extended beyond tangible goods, demonstrating the power of community collaboration to walk alongside families during critical transitions.
Expanding Faith-Based Foster Care Support
Foster care support comes in many forms, but the same goal remains: help children in foster care find permanency and meet their needs during the process. This includes supporting parents as they work to bring their children home safely. As we saw with Station Hill Church, Every Child TN works due to its collaborative nature. No one can end the child welfare crisis alone, but with a supportive ecosystem, it’s possible to achieve in our lifetime. Every Child TN’s success fuels our hope that every state will adopt a similar program to increase foster care support nationwide.
For Others actively strategizes with several states across the country to determine their greatest need and create a plan of action. It’s our goal to solve every state’s crisis because every child deserves a safe and stable home. We’re growing rapidly, and we can only expand this foster care support with your help. Be a part of the movement today.
