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“A father to the fatherless … is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalms 68:5
Children awaiting adoption or placement from foster care are often among the most vulnerable in our community. In the state of Tennessee, over 1,000 kids age out of foster care each year, putting them at risk for social wounds such as drug abuse, poverty, trafficking, suicide, and much more. Around the world, the numbers are even higher.
All of them are seeking more than just a home—they’re seeking a family.
What does it mean to be "family"?
For several, responding to this calling means opening their hearts and homes and entering into the foster or adoption journey. For others, it’s entering into the journey to support and raise awareness for the unique needs of the foster and adoptive community.
At The Bridge, we have seen and walked alongside over a hundred families in the last several years who have adopted or brought children into their home for long-term or respite foster care. We would love for you to be a part of their stories.
Meet the Dukes!
OUR PARTNERS
Tennessee Kids Belong works to improve the experiences and outcomes for the nearly 10,000 kids in foster care in Tennessee. Through family recruitment initiatives, community engagement, and coalitions for state in partnership with the Tennessee state government, TN Kids Belong has created a network of care among churches and businesses throughout the state to bring awareness and initiate care.
No More Fatherless is an initiative which seeks to see an end to physical and spiritual fatherlessness in our cities, nation, and world. Beginning in 2017 right here in our church in No More Fatherless has seen dozens of children be brought out of physical fatherlessness by supporting families through the adoption process. Our prayer is to see thousands more not just brought into physical families, but welcomed into the family of Christ and set free from spiritual fatherlessness through salvation.
NO MORE FATHERLESS ADOPTION GRANT
If your family is in the adoption process and you’re interested in applying for the No More Fatherless adoption grant, we would love to connect with you and see how we can support your family in the adoption journey! Please apply below and we’ll reach out promptly.
TRAUMA AWARENESS RESOURCES
In many ways, the adoption journey can feel like it’s only just beginning the day a child is brought into their forever family. Trauma awareness is fundamental to understanding how to best care for adopted or foster children and help them to heal and thrive, whether you’re the parent of one or you’re seeking to come alongside an adoptive or foster family.
"Attachment-Focused Parenting: Effective Strategies to Care for Children"
By Daniel Hughes
This book discusses how to set limits with children, how to provide guidance, and how to manage the responsibilities and difficulties of daily life, while communicating safety, fun, joy, and love. It also provides parents with information regarding healthy brain development and neurochemistry of children who have experienced trauma.
"Parenting From the Inside Out: How a deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive"
By Daniel Siegel
Siegel believes the first step to raising happy and healthy children is to fully understand and learn from your own childhood experiences. He offers a step-by-step approach to raising compassionate and resilient kids.
"The Whole Brain Child"
By Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
The Whole Brain Child provides 12 strategies to promote healthy brain development and help integrate our children’s right brain (emotional) and left brain (logic). It teaches parents how to connect with their children when emotions are high and then practice with their children a different, healthier way to process those difficult feelings.
"Created to Connect"
By Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael & Amy Monroe
Created to Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child, was created by Dr. Karyn Purvis, along with Michael and Amy Monroe, to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book.
"The Connected Parent"
By Dr. Karyn Purvis & Lisa Qualls
The Connected Parent: Real-Life Strategies for Building Trust and Attachment, by renowned child-development expert Dr. Karyn Purvis, gives you practical advice and powerful tools you can use to encourage secure attachment in your family. Coauthor Lisa Qualls demonstrates how you can successfully implement these strategies in your home, just as she did in hers.
Healing Families Video Series
Karyn Purvis Institute of Childhood Development
The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development has put together a number of video resources to teach the principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention. The Healing Families videos are especially helpful for those parenting children impacted by adoption or foster care.
CHILDREN BOOKS
