Association For Guidance Aid Placement & Empathy

TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, TESTING, AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES NEEDING HELP WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES (E.G.,DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, GRIEF, DIVORCE, RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS) THROUGH 25+ PROVIDERS. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE WEEKDAYS, EVENINGS, AND SATURDAYS IN NASHVILLE AND AT AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE. AFFORDABLILITY OF SERVICES IS ATTAINED THROUGH A SLIDING SCALE FEE SYSTEM AND THE ABILITY TO USE INSURANCE OR EAP BENEFITS IN MANY CASES, AS WELL AS THROUGH OTHER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH EMPLOYERS AND A NUMBER OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. AGAPE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING TO THE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. FROM JULY 2021 THROUGH JUNE 2022, AGAPE PROVIDED 11,624 COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 1,280 CLIENTS.

FOSTER CARE, FOSTER HOME PREPARATION: AGAPE ASSISTS THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES BY ACCEPTING FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN IN DCS CUSTODY THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH OMNIVISIONS. AGAPE ALSO ACCEPTS VOLUNTARY PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN WHEN PARENTS OR LEGAL CUSTODIANS ARE IN CRISIS AND CANNOT CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AGAPE PLACES CHILDREN IN APPROVED AND TRAINED FOSTER HOMES. EFFORTS ARE MADE TO ASSIST THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO BE REUNITED. TRAINING AND APPROVAL THROUGH HOME STUDIES ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN SAFE, STABLE, CARING FOSTER HOMES. ONGOING TRAINING ENABLES FOSTER PARENTS TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. SAFETY, WELLBEING AND PERMANENCY ARE GOALS FOR EACH PLACEMENT. FROM JULY 2021 THROUGH JUNE 2022, AGAPE PROVIDED 24,098 DAYS OF CARE TO 119 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. 42 FAMILIES COMPLETED PRE-SERVICE TRAINING AND WERE APPROVED AS FOSTER HOMES DURING FY22.

MORNING STAR SANCTUARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (MSS):MORNING STAR SANCTUARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (MSS) EXISTS TO PROVIDE REFUGE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE FLED ABUSIVE SITUATIONS AND TO HELP EMPOWER THEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE THAT CONTROLS THEIR LIVES. THROUGH THE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM, MSS PROVIDES FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING ORDERS OF PROTECTION, SAFETY PLANNING AND DANGER ASSESSMENT TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FROM JULY 2021 THROUGH JUNE 2022, 97 WOMEN, 60 CHILDREN, AND 12 MEN WERE SHELTERED WITH 4,480 BED NIGHTS PROVIDED. IN OUR COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM WE SERVED 1,017 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

MATERNITY ASSISTANCE AND ADOPTION: COUNSELING IS OFFERED TO WOMEN WHOSE PREGNANCY HAS BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL STRESS AND COMPLICATIONS AND WHO WANT TO LOOK AT OPTIONS RATHER THAN ABORTION. SUPPORT, ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND COUNSELING ASSISTS WOMEN IN DEVELOPING AN INFORMED PLAN THAT WILL EITHER ENABLE HER TO PARENT OR TO PLAN FOR ADOPTION. OPENNESS IS ENCOURAGED FOR ADOPTION PLANS. ONE MATERNITY CLIENT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM AGAPE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022. ADOPTION SERVICES FOR 6 CHILDREN WERE COMPLETED FROM JULY 2021 THROUGH JUNE 2022.