Statements
Mission
Our mission is to strengthen children and families with the healing love of Christ through counseling and social services.
Background
AGAPE was founded in 1966 and opened its doors in 1967. Area church leaders recognized the need for an organization that would provide foster care and counseling services for unwed, pregnant women and foster and adoptive care for their infants and established AGAPE to meet these needs. It soon became apparent that there was a great need for foster and adoptive care for older children and this service was added to the existing programs. In an effort to strengthen and support families, especially those experiencing difficult life issues such as relationship problems, grief and divorce or serious clinical issues like depression, anxiety, ADHD or various disorders such as eating disorders, etc., counseling for families and individuals was added to the services after a few years. AGAPE's purpose is to ensure that every child in our care has a loving, stable family. We also strive to assist individuals and families when problems arise, by making Christian Professional Counseling available, crisis care for children, maternity counseling for birth mothers and other support services, regardless of clients financial circumstances. In July, 2018, Morning Star Sanctuary merged with AGAPE and became Morning Star Domestic Violence Program.
Impact
Accomplishments:
1. Used resources wisely to continue to care for a large number of people
2. AGAPE's Counseling Program provided 10,741 sessions for an average number of 498 clients served per month in fiscal year 2023.
3. Our Social Services Program provided homes for 136 children for 22,863 care days in fiscal year 2023.
4. In 2020, AGAPE was re-accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation.
5. During our 2023 fiscal year, AGAPE's Morning Star Shelter provided a home and other services for 128 women, 63 children, and 23 men for a total of 4,656 bed nights. Our Crisis Line received 1,890 calls which was a huge increase from the 973 calls received the prior year, indicating an increase in the number of victims and their needs. Court Advocacy Services were provided for 778 victims and our Director of Legal Services provided assistance for 35 victims last year.
Goals:
1. Grow and expand sustainable social services programs for children and families in the community.
2. Be the leading provider of Christian Counseling and Psychological Services.
3. Expand services at Morning Star Domestic Violence Program.
Needs
• Additional foster parents who are willing to foster teens
• Increased funding for top quality mental health counseling for clients who are unable to pay the full cost
• Competitive salaries for trauma informed advocates at Morning Star Domestic Violence Shelter
• Assistance with facilities maintenance
• Funding for staff training and self-care
CEO Statement
AGAPE offers a unique service we refer to as Crisis Foster Care. Many families, especially single moms, find themselves often in a crisis situation choosing between caring for their child or children, or working on getting their lives in order and recovering from their own poor choices of drug and alcohol use. AGAPE provides homes for children and case plans for families so the parent(s) can know their child is safe while they get back on track and responsibly care for their children. This program is a voluntary program and receives no service revenue from the Department of Children Services. AGAPE is unique because of its close association with Churches of Christ. While not exclusively supported by churches of Christ, AGAPE continues to be blessed by those relationships. Those relationships have allowed AGAPE to expand and grow into the broader faith community as well as the civic and business community in Middle Tennessee. AGAPE supports and encourages the practice of the faith community working together with the civic and business community to improve the lives of vulnerable children and adults in our communities. We believe that those most vulnerable are children and those that have made poor choices in their past but now are searching for healing personally and for their family and need somewhere to turn for unconditional love and support. AGAPE believes in a fundamental truth that each individual is uniquely created in the image of our Creator and should be treated with dignity, respect and unconditional love regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion or gender. We believe that as a faith based organization, we have a God given responsibility to help even the least of those in our community who need our help. AGAPE serves children and families in Middle Tennessee through counseling and psychological services, adoption services, crisis foster care services and maternity counseling services. We believe in offering these services to those in the community regardless of their financial ability to pay. We believe that every child deserves a safe and loving home and that strong, loving families provide safer and healthier communities in which to live.
Board Chair Statement
AGAPE looks forward to continuing and expanding its role in serving the Nashville/Middle Tennessee community in the coming years.
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Human Services - Foster Care |
| Secondary Category: | Mental Health & Crisis Intervention - Counseling |
| Tertiary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Temporary Housing |
Areas Served
Middle Tennessee.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
