Why Churches?

Nashville has more churches than foster families. It’s simple math. If every church commits to supporting one foster family and their caseworker, we could reshape the landscape of foster care in Nashville for the better.

According to national data, 50% of foster families burnout after one year of service or their first foster placement, whichever comes first. Studies on caseworkers reveal a similar burnout rate as high as 40% annually. Tennessee in general and Nashville in particular has struggled to sustain foster families and caseworkers. In recent years, the state’s foster care ranked among the lowest in the country measured by how often kids in care changed foster homes every year. Additionally, caseworkers saw an 80% turnover rate.

Churches can help. When churches commit to Crowded Table’s partnership program, congregations provide support that increases the capacity of foster families and caseworkers to sustain their service to foster children. The longer foster families and caseworkers are able to consistently care for kids in foster care, the greater the likelihood that those children will find or return to a place they can call a forever home.