Extended foster care cannot help a young person who never learns it exists.
Among surveyed young people who did not participate, 44% said they were unaware of EFC or had not been told about it. At the same time, all 30 state and county child welfare professionals surveyed said caseworkers promote the program.
I know what it feels like to pack your life into a trash bag.
I know what it feels like to walk into a new house and not know if you’re staying two weeks or two years.
I know what it feels like to pretend you’re okay at school when your whole life feels unstable.
There are moments throughout the year that remind us why community matters and Red Kite Nite 2026 was one of them. The event was a reflection of what happens when a village comes together with a shared purpose: to ensure every young person has the opportunity to dream bigger and achieve more.
May is National Foster Care Month, and Youth Villages is recognizing the people making a difference for children across West Tennessee.
This National Philanthropic Trust feature highlights how Youth Villages supports children and young people facing complex challenges through evidence-based programs.
The Administration for Children and Families’ ‘A Home for Every Child’ initiative gives states a new focus to streamline the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) with one goal: achieving a 1:1 ratio of children to available foster home. As developments are moving quickly, Impact & Insights will provide regular updates on the initiative.
Conzy Mitchell, nurse manager, was recently featured in Memphis Parent, where her work as a nurse at Youth Villages was highlighted alongside her personal commitment as a foster care parent.
At 19, Ashley is moving forward with confidence as she shapes her future on her terms. She lives independently, is in her first semester at Fayetteville Technical Community College and works part time while preparing for a career in respiratory therapy and nursing.
At 16, Sofia entered foster care as a new mother with nowhere else to go. Her own home hadn’t been a safe or supportive environment, kicking her out when she got pregnant. With no guardian to return to after giving birth, she found herself in foster care, raising a baby in an unfamiliar home.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Approximately 70 foster youth in Middle Tennessee celebrated educational achievements ranging from high school equivalency to college degrees at a special event in Franklin.