Youth Villages is looking for caring people in the Sumner County area to become mentors and foster parents to children in need.

Mentors serve as positive role models to children in Youth Villages’ care, who may be dealing with emotional, behavioral and mental health issues. Many children lack a positive adult figure in their lives and can benefit greatly from one-on-one time spent with a mentor.

Mentors are asked to make at least a six-month commitment and spend at least four to six hours per month with their mentees. These times can be spent doing things they both enjoy such as going out to eat, visiting local attractions, volunteering or reading together.

Potential mentors should be at least 21 years old and attend a free initial training session.

For more information on mentoring, please call Tangina Sanders at 901-252-2898, email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit youthvillages.org.

Youth Villages is also looking for foster parents for children who have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment or other issues and need a home. These children need families who will care for them until they can return to their birth families or an adoptive family is found for them.

If the children become available for adoption, foster parents often have the first right to adopt, and adoption through Youth Villages is free.

Foster parents should be single or married adults over the age of 25 living in the Sumner County area. For more information on becoming a foster parent, please call Lauren Hurley, foster parent recruiter at 250-7318, email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit youthvillages.org.