We had a wonderful conversation with Youth Villages about the incredible work they are doing to support foster care across Middle Tennessee. We spoke with Frankie Boyette, Regional Supervisor of Foster Care, who shared valuable insight into the growing need for foster parents in our community, what makes a great foster parent, the requirements and process of becoming licensed, what to expect when a child is placed in your home, and the impact of therapeutic foster care. We also had the opportunity to hear a firsthand perspective from Ms. Gubasavi, a single elementary school teacher with MNPS who is deeply involved in her community and has an incredible gift for connecting with children, especially those who may be harder to reach. After just her first year as a foster parent, she was named Rookie of the Year in 2025! She currently has four children in her home and primarily fosters girls, mostly teenagers, but has also opened her home to babies. After welcoming a teen mom into her home, she became open to fostering younger children as well. Her story was a beautiful reminder of the difference one person can make and offered an inspiring look at the joys, challenges, and life-changing impact of foster parenting.

<p>We had a wonderful conversation with Youth Villages about the incredible work they are doing to support foster care across Middle Tennessee. We spoke with Frankie Boyette, Regional Supervisor of Foster Care, who shared valuable insight into the growing need for foster parents in our community, what makes a great foster parent, the requirements and process of becoming licensed, what to expect when a child is placed in your home, and the impact of therapeutic foster care. We also had the opportunity to hear a firsthand perspective from Ms. Gubasavi, a single elementary school teacher with MNPS who is deeply involved in her community and has an incredible gift for connecting with children, especially those who may be harder to reach. After just her first year as a foster parent, she was named Rookie of the Year in 2025! She currently has four children in her home and primarily fosters girls, mostly teenagers, but has also opened her home to babies. After welcoming a teen mom into her home, she became open to fostering younger children as well. Her story was a beautiful reminder of the difference one person can make and offered an inspiring look at the joys, challenges, and life-changing impact of foster parenting.</p>

Public Affairs program that airs on Sunday mornings.