Support for Families
Starting on the path to adoption can be exciting, stressful, challenging, as well as wonderful - and it is only the beginning of a lifelong adventure!
Harmony provides families with numerous resources and invaluable support throughout every stage of this journey. The mission statement at Harmony is to create innovative opportunities for healing and growth so all may live their best lives. All includes parents.
“Successful adoptive parents may need to build their communication skills, tolerance for talking about tough topics, and ability to cope with discomfort and ambivalence – to hold both the good and bad parts of adoption alongside their children.”
– ALLISON COOKE DOUGLAS, M.S., IMH-E
THE ADOPTION SUPPORT AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM (ASAP)
Harmony’s ASAP program provides evidence-based, trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services that are individualized to meet the unique needs of adoptive families. Intensive in-home services, diverse educational offerings, and supportive enrichment activities are available to any family who has adopted through the public child welfare system in Tennessee. Additionally, families who have adopted through the public child welfare system in another state and subsequently moved to Tennessee are eligible for ASAP services. Families who have adopted through private, domestic, or intercountry channels are eligible for ASAP services on a sliding scale fee basis.
Harmony’s innovative continuum of services includes:
- Adoption and Guardianship Preparation Training prior to adoption finalization or guardianship assumption
- Parent Education designed to gain a better understanding of trauma, its impact on your child, and effective strategies to support and encourage family well-being
- In-home, trauma-informed assessment and family-focused counseling
- Crisis Intervention to restore stability and safety within the family unit
- Case Management including referrals and linkage to community services
- Relief Team Development to help families identify supportive individuals who will provide emotional and tangible assistance to the family during times of difficulty
- Therapeutic family and day camps at historic Camp Montvale situated on 364 wooded acres at the foothills of Chilhowee Mountain in Maryville, TN
- FUSE Family Events – community social events are held across the state to provide adoptive families with fellowship, support, and the opportunity for family connection in an accepting environment staffed by professionals with lived-experience as adoptive parents
Families United Supported Engaged
FUSE (Families United Supported Engaged) Community social events are held across the state to provide adoptive families with fellowship, support, and the opportunity for family connection in an accepting environment staffed by professionals with lived experience as adoptive parents. Find FUSE events on our calendar! Contact Franny Alexander at franny@harmonyfamilycenter.org for more information. FUSE groups are open to all foster-to-adopt, pre-adoptive, and adoptive families.
Families may contact the ASAP|GSAP Helpline at 888.848.2727 to request services or to learn more about the program. Referring professionals are encouraged to contact the Helpline with any questions and may refer adoptive or guardianship families for services by contacting 888.848.2727.
More Online Resources
Harmony’s Resource Center
Harmony wants to ensure that you have access to tools and information on issues affecting children and families. Here (Online Resources – Harmony Family Center) you can find a collection of online resources including a glossary to help you understand terms and concepts commonly used in discussions having to do with adoption. This resource includes webinars, recommended readings, videos, and other resources where you will find information on a range of adoption-related issues.
Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS)
Inquiry Form for Potential Foster Parents (tn.gov)
Other Resources
