News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
An Eastern Tennessee foster care agency is looking to expand its reach into the Upper Cumberland.
Joy Abel is the Director of Foster Care at Free Will Baptist Family Ministries. She said orientation classes are being prepared for families in the area looking to foster children.
“We hope to have, by mid September, an informational session,” Abel said. “That will be open for people to come to and hear more if they have questions.”
Abel said although the organization is based on Free Will Baptist beliefs, they are partnering with area churches of other denominations to recruit potential foster families.
Free Will Baptist Family Ministries looks to expand its reach of foster care into the Upper Cumberland (Submitted Photo)
“I think for foster care, our mission at Family Ministries is to serve and share Christ,” Abel said. “We’re looking to strengthen and preserve families, and we want to be able to provide a loving, caring, and secure environment for these kids and also for these families.”
Abel said the organization specializes in therapeutic foster care, which helps children suffering from physical or mental illness.
“I feel therapeutic services are necessary and we have to do this but we have the benefit that we are faith-based,” Abel said. “We’re able to provide these kids a loving and stable environment that offers them Jesus.”
Abel said anyone interested in becoming a foster parent can visit their website or contact a recruiter via the organization’s recruiter hotline at (423) 470-2300.
Free Will Baptist Family Ministries is headquartered in Greeneville specializing in care ranging from unborn child care to senior living.
