NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Hundreds of Tennessee children await an adoptive family and many spend years in foster care.

A local nonprofit is providing free virtual information sessions for prospective parents.

More than 450 Tennessee kids need adoptive families.

"Things have changed in the world with opioids and things like that," Suzanne Jones with Youth Villages said. "We have more children come into custody at faster rates than they have in the past."

"We are in need of new homes, and a lot of times, some of the kids aren't able to have the reunification process, so they're going to need permanent adoption," Jones said.

In Tennessee, Jones said people have to be a certified foster parent for six months before adoption is considered.

She said she's seen some beautiful things come from the process. For example, a family thinking they only want to foster.

"The family said, 'We can't image our life without him or her, so stop recruiting, we want her to stay with us,'" Jones said.

Jones said a lot of the kids in the system are teenagers.

"They still need someone to walk them through the most crucial years of their life," Jones said.

If you're interested in learning about the foster or adoption process: youthvillages.org/adoption or call 1-888-MY-YV-KID.

They are hosting virtual information sessions:

• Nov. 8 – 10 a.m. CT
• Nov. 13 – 6 p.m. CT
• Nov. 22 – 10 a.m. CT
• Nov. 24 – 6 p.m. CT

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/davidson-county-nonprofit-links-foster-children-to-homes/