Why We Help?

Across the United States, 97% of young adults aging out of foster care will encounter chronic poverty in their lifetime. 55% of youth in foster care between the ages of 17 – 21 will age out of foster care without a family they can depend on. 81% of young men aging out will be incarcerated at some point in their lives. Nationwide, former youth of foster care are more likely to experience homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, substance abuse or mental illness. The Department of Children Services (DCS) in the State of Tennessee has over 8,000 youth in foster care custody. More than 800 young people age out of foster care in Tennessee on their 18th birthday each year. Research indicates that 21% of these young people will become homeless the day they turn 18 and 37% will lack stable housing. By age 21, more than 70% of young women aging out of foster care will become pregnant and only 25% will earn a high school diploma or equivalent. 60% of trafficked young women were previously within the foster care system.

The mission of Path Haven is to be a safe, Christian transitional house for youth aging out of foster care that provides college enrollment prep and job search assistance with permanent housing referrals. Youth (18-23 years) aging out of foster care in Tennessee will receive secure, short-term or long-term housing (up to six years) for the purpose of transitioning to a college residence or employment with an apartment rental. Transitional housing includes meals, allowance and board (bed, toiletries, clothing, utilities, repairs and maintenance). Path Haven’s mission is accomplished through implementation of two supervised independent living (SIL) programs in accordance with the Tennessee Department of Children Services' (DCS) extended foster care framework: (1) The College Bound Program and (2) The Employment Independency Program. While residing at Path Haven, transitioning youth participate in one of the two programs. Learn more about our two SIL programs.

As a Christian transitional home for youth, we believe in God’s instruction to mankind through Jesus Christ and His holy Word, (the Bible) to love one another. As Jesus came to convey God’s love, care and service to mankind, we too follow after Jesus by loving, caring and serving others - specifically youth aging out of foster care. The Bible references at least three examples of foster care: (a) the prophet Moses raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, (b) queen Esther raised by Mordecai, and (c) the prophet Samuel raised by the prophet Eli. God always intended for mankind to serve youth through foster care. Path Haven provides a safe home (or haven) for youth struggling with multiple different paths to adulthood. Path Haven’s theological framework embodies that although there are many pathways one may take in life, scripture reminds us that Jesus is the Way of Truth to eternal Life.

Foster care services and supervised independent living programs are provided by Path Haven without discrimination. In accordance with the US Civil Rights Act, Path Haven does not discriminate services based on a person's national origin, race, color, religion, disability, sex, and familial status. Laws prohibiting national origin discrimination make it illegal to discriminate because of a person's birthplace, ancestry, culture or language.

Email us at info@pathhaven.org for more information about our planned impact: improving the experience of youth transitioning from foster care, combatting youth homelessness, expanding the local workforce and increasing enrollment in colleges and universities locally.