Tennessee

Programs and Services

Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Childhelp Tennessee is a regional branch of Childhelp. Childhelp operates the Childhelp Children’s Center of East Tennessee as well as the Childhelp Foster Family Agency of Tennessee.

Prevention

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)Serves the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Established in 1982, it is anonymous and confidential and is staffed by professional crisis counselors who, through translators, can provide assistance in 140 languages.

Intervention & Treatment

The Childhelp Children’s Center of East Tennessee opened in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1995. The advocacy center serves Knox and surrounding counties. The Children’s center is a partnership between public and private agencies to provide all of the services needed by an abuse victim in a single child-friendly location. Co-located at the advocacy center are members of child protective services, a forensic pediatrician, mental heath services, law enforcement services and a forensic interviewer. All of these team members work together to ensure that children receive prompt care in a child friendly environment. The team works together to ensure that abuse cases are fully investigated and key evidence is collected and preserved. This team work results in minimizing the trauma caused by the investigation to the child and making prosecution of offenders more successful. The Children’s Center of East Tennessee has been recognized as one of the leading Children’s advocacy centers in Tennessee. Its professional staff members are considered the experts on child sexual abuse in the East Tennessee community.

The Childhelp Tennessee Foster Family agency headquarters

Foster Care

The Childhelp Tennessee Foster Family agency provides therapeutic foster care for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. These children need the safety and security of a warm and nurturing home. Foster parenting gives you a chance to make a difference in the lives of these children in need. Our team of social workers is passionate about helping children and being a go to resource for our foster parent partners.

Being a Foster Care Parent

- from Misty & Tony Brown, Knoxville Tennessee

Being a foster parent with Childhelp Tennessee has been a truly rewarding experience.

Our journey began February 1st, 2006. My husband and I had attended all the required PATH (Parents As Tender Healers) training and felt like we were prepared. Bring it on, we said. Believe me nothing can prepare you for the wounded children that come to your home when you get the call asking if you can open your heart. I will never forget the look of fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the two children that walked into our lives that night. They were so used to a life of unspeakable neglect that a simple hug sent waves of fear throughout them.

Little by little our lives began to have routine and the people of Childhelp became our lifeline. What a ride! The two wounded children that we first met in February are now flourishing teenagers who are smothered with kisses and hugs. The past will always be a part of them and us. Our experience has truly made us better people. I sometimes wonder if they saved us or if we saved them. Tony and I thank God daily for the miracles that he has sent our way and the friends we have made at Childhelp. I am often asked would I do it again? Absolutely. We have had the opportunity to truly look in the eyes of God. How many people can say that?

The Childhelp Foster Family Agency includes a barn for our horses

Facilities

The Childhelp Foster Family Agency is located on site that was once the Brookhaven Farm and conference center in the Seymour community of South Knoxville.

The rolling hills of this fifty acre site includes a barn for our horses, a gymnasium, and meeting rooms for foster parent training and holiday celebrations with the children.

What does it take to be a foster parent?

Ability to provide a warm, secure and nurturing home.
Be part of partnership between the child’s social worker, therapist, teachers and physicians.
Completion of 30 hours of P.A.T.H training (parents as tender healers)
Commitment, understanding, patience and the willingness to accept and provide guidance to children with diverse backgrounds and challenges.
Provide consistent, fair and age appropriate guidance for children.
Potential foster parents are screened through a series of interviews, background checks, training, and home interviews.
Be 21 years of age or older
Be legally married or single
Be a resident of the State of Tennessee
Be employed or have a source of viable income
Have space in your home for a child
Have a working automobile and auto insurance, as well as home owners or renter’s insurance.

What will the Childhelp Foster Family Agency Provide?

Free foster parent training so you can earn the hours you need to become certified as a therapeutic foster home.
Once certified, ongoing training to help you be a successful foster parent
Individual therapy and counseling for each foster child.
24-hour on call support services for emergency situations.
Respite care to give you a break when you need one
Financial stipend of up to $900 a month per foster child to cover the cost of bringing a child or teen in need into your home. This covers expenses such as food, housing, clothing, transportation, personal care, recreation and allowance (Funds are not taxable as income.)

What is the next step?

If you have any additional questions or if you would like to apply to become a foster parent call the Childhelp Tennessee Foster Family agency at 865-579-5498

Chapter Wish List

In-kind donations of products and services (such as the items listed below) typically are in demand at the Tennessee office. If you are interested in making an in-kind donation, contact the office directly.

Every child who receives a medical examination at the Childhelp Children's Center of East Tennessee or the Childhelp Children's Mobile Advocacy Center of East Tennessee gets to choose a toy to keep from the toy closet. New toys and gifts are needed for the young children's and the teen's closets.

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