Statements

Mission

Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK) engages the community to meet the emergent and ongoing needs of children in foster care, those at risk of coming into foster care, and those aging out.

Background

Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK) was established to help provide for needs of children at risk of coming into foster care, those already in care, and those aging out whose needs were not being met by other means. TAK serves the Davidson County Department of Children's Services (DCS), Mid-Cumberland DCS, Williamson County DCS, Office of Independent Living and Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes. Through these agencies, TAK provides support to children entering foster care, at risk of entering care and those in care, youth enrolled in the Extension of Foster Care Program through the TN Dept. of Children's Services, families working towards reunification and families trying to stay intact.

Impact

Currently, there are around 8,000 children in foster care in the State of Tennessee. Children come into foster care through no fault of their own, often because of abuse, abandonment, endangerment or neglect. When children are removed from their homes, they typically are not able to take any possessions with them. As a result, they come into foster care with little to no belongings or items to meet their needs. Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK) was started in June of 2016, after the State of Tennessee Department of Children's Services asked a small group of dedicated individuals-- who had long been helping on occasion-- to consider forming a nonprofit to assist with meeting the emergent needs of the children it served. TAK formalized and has since received hundreds of requests to help children in crisis. Through our FosterLove Program, TAK has become a valuable partner to the children in crisis in Tennessee by providing beds, car seats, clothing, food, gift cards for groceries, fuel, entertainment and meals, diapers, formula and much more. Since 2020, TAK has served more than 1,500 children and families in Middle TN by meeting more than 2,000 needs.

Needs

Tennessee Alliance for Kids meets the emergent and ongoing needs of children in foster care, at risk of entering care and youth aging out by purchasing new items through our FosterLove Program. TAK's biggest needs are as follows:

1. Funding for TAK's FosterLove Program that allows us to meet each need requested by the agencies we serve. TAK receives no government funding from the State of Tennessee.
2. Corporate, organizational and church community partners to aid in program funding and special projects.
3. Community support to provide TAK PAKS which are backpacks filled with essential and comfort items for children entering foster care. This can be individuals, families, churches, schools, organizations and businesses donating TAK PAKS.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Foster Care
Secondary Category:	Human Services  - Children's and Youth Services
Tertiary Category:	Human Services  - Alliances & Advocacy

Areas Served

Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK) serves the Davidson County Department of Children's Services (DCS), Mid-Cumberland DCS, Office of Independent Living and Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes. TAK's services are available to the Safe Rooms in Davidson, Dickson and Williamson Counties which serve children waiting for placement with foster families and children/families for court-ordered family visitations. These Safe Rooms are utilized by several area counties.

TN - Davidson

TN - Dickson

TN - Rutherford

TN - Montgomery

TN - Williamson

TN - Wilson

TN - Cheatham

TN - Robertson

TN - Sumner

TN - Trousdale