Nashville encourages people of faith to reach out to foster care

Nashville promoting mix of faith and foster care
Cass, Michael. Ashland City Times, May 8, 2007.

Houses of worship will be encouraged to help look after Nashville's foster children under a program announced by Mayor Bill Purcell and other officials today.

The program, called "Faith in Foster Care," will urge the city's faith community to adopt and mentor foster youths, feature information about foster care during worship services, hold donation drives and provide a support system for foster parents.

"There are more than 1,000 children in foster care in Davidson County today," Purcell said in a news release. "They need caring adults to help them reach their full potential, and I believe our city's faith community can be a strong partner in their success."

Carla Aaron, Davidson County regional administrator for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, said the state appreciates the helping hand from faith-based organizations.

"DCS cannot do this alone," Aaron said.

The faith program is part of "Fostering Success," a partnership between DCS and several other organizations.