Association For Guidance Aid Placement & Empathy

TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE HEALING LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY.

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 SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, GRIEF, MARITAL & RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. AFFORDABILITY 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 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2024, AGAPE PROVIDED 10,861 COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 824 CLIENTS.

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. ADOPTION SERVICES FOR 19 CHILDREN WERE COMPLETED FROM JULY 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2024.

FOSTER CARE, FOSTER HOME CERTIFICATION: AGAPE PROVIDES SAFE, STABLE, CARING FOSTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REFERRED TO AGAPE BY THE TN DEPT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES. AGAPE ALSO ACCEPTS VOLUNTARY PLACEMENTS WHEN PARENTS OR LEGAL CUSTODIANS ARE IN CRISIS & CANNOT CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. PARENTAL REUNIFICATION WITH CHILDREN IS ALWAYS THE INITIAL PERMANENCY PLAN WHILE ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN. AGAPE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND ONGOING TRAINING FOR FOSTER PARENTS TO MEET EACH CHILD'S SPECIAL NEEDS. FROM JULY 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2024, AGAPE PROVIDED 24,819 DAYS OF CARE TO 110 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. 67 FAMILIES HAVE COMPLETED PRE-SERVICE TRAINING AND WERE APPROVED FOSTER HOMES DURING FY24.

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 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2024, 75 WOMEN, 64 CHILDREN, AND 12 MEN WERE SHELTERED WITH 3,722 BED NIGHTS PROVIDED. IN OUR COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM WE SERVED 423 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.