By: Pam Madison, CEO, Monroe Harding
Monroe Harding is entering the new fiscal year with a clear plan to serve more young people and strengthen the support available to them.
At Monroe Harding, that means beginning this year with a new strategic plan focused on one central goal: helping more children, youth, and young adults build safe, stable, and successful futures.
For more than 130 years, Monroe Harding has evolved alongside the changing needs of young people impacted by adversity and trauma. Today, those needs remain urgent and often deeply misunderstood by the broader public.
While many people picture foster care as a temporary landing spot for infants and toddlers, the reality across Tennessee is quite different. Of the nearly 9,000 children in foster care, teenagers make up the largest age group in our state’s foster system. Roughly 60% of children in care experience three or more placements. That level of constant disruption can create significant hurdles for a young person trying to build a sense of belonging, keep up in school, or heal from trauma.
Young people don't just need a place to stay, they need safe housing, access to education and employment, and consistent support as they navigate the transition toward adulthood.
Our new strategic plan is designed to help Monroe Harding serve more young people while strengthening the quality and reach of that support.
Recruiting More Foster Families
One of our most important goals this year is to recruit 50 foster families. Every young person deserves to experience the love and support that a family can provide. Yet the need for foster families remains especially great for teenagers, sibling groups, and young people with specialized needs.
Recruiting foster families is not just about the numbers, however. It is about finding compassionate people willing to open their hearts and homes to provide stability during a critical time in a young person’s life. It also means ensuring foster families receive the training, guidance, and support they need to be successful in their roles.
Stable Housing for Young People
Our strategic plan also calls for Monroe Harding to explore more ways to increase access to safe and stable housing, particularly for those transitioning out of care.
For many young people, turning 18 does not mean they are ready to navigate adulthood alone. Those leaving foster care may be expected to manage housing, employment, education, transportation, finances, and healthcare without the support network many of their peers rely on, responsibilities few 18-year-olds anywhere are equipped to handle without help.
Stable housing is the foundation for everything else. When a young adult knows they have a safe place to sleep every night, they are empowered to stay enrolled in school, maintain a job, prioritize their mental and physical health, and build long-term financial independence. Through our Supportive Housing programs and Resource Center, Monroe Harding provides the practical tools, life-skills training, and enduring mentorship young people need to break the cycle of instability.
These long-term strategic goals are directly tied to the work happening in our community right now.
Bringing the Community Closer to the Mission
This July, Monroe Harding created opportunities for neighbors to learn more about its work and find meaningful ways to get involved. Our Jeni’s Ice Cream Socials offered a warm, approachable way for community members to learn about our mission and see how they can get involved. Meanwhile, our annual Back-to-School campaign, coming up in August, ensures the young people we serve walk into the classroom equipped with both the supplies and the confidence they need to succeed.
While these might seem like simple seasonal events, each plays a vital role in our larger vision. A donated backpack tells a student their education matters. A casual conversation over ice cream can spark someone’s journey toward becoming a foster parent. A new corporate partnership can open doors to career pathways or affordable housing for youth. A financial gift ensures our team can continue showing up for a young person when they need us most.
Why It Matters
Our strategic plan provides the roadmap, but creating real change for children, youth, and young adults experiencing adversity and trauma takes all of us. As we begin this new fiscal year, we are excited about what lies ahead. We know the goals are ambitious, but so is our belief in what young people can achieve when they have the right homes, healing, and opportunities.
