Foster family care agency Agape Villages makes it their mission to help disadvantaged children from newborn to 21 years of age along with their families through various services and programs the agency offers in order to provide a better future for families in crisis.
 Established on Christian values and principles decades ago, the agency since then has been fulfilling its vision to give dysfunctional biological families an opportunity to heal, grow and develop.
 With 85 children currently in the program, Agape Villages continually works at developing and maintaining trained and certified foster families in which the children can be cared for and cherished in a safe and nurturing environment.
 While there is various requirements to becoming a foster parent, Agape Certification Coordinator Nina Payne says, “The very basic (requirement) is love in your heart to help a child in need.”
Whether single, married, have children of your own or no children at all, as long as you are 21 years or older, and have a heart overflowing with love for a child in need and a willingness to help then you already have a significant part of the requirement.
The steps to becoming a certified foster family parent include:
Completing the foster family certification process
A telephone interview
Gathering of appropriate documentation
Finger printing and background check
Health screening
Home visit and orientation
PRIDE pre-certification training
Home study and inspection
 The staff of Agape Villages is fully aware of the fact that becoming a foster care parent is a big decision with responsibilities which is why they are hands on in their constant training support of people willing to open their heart and home to change the life of a child forever through foster care.
Even if you are not in a position to become a foster parent, there are many ways people can offer support to Agape Villages and the children in their program. Volunteering a bit of time where needed, making donations or participating in the various fundraising events that help raise awareness throughout the year, are just a few of the ways members of the community can join in the effort of meeting the needs for foster care children and their families. 
According to Payne, “Each family has different needs.  Some families need help with clothing, some transportation, while some don’t need [much] help at all. It varies per family.”
The next fundraising event where community members can offer their support is  a Jail ‘N Bail on Friday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Oak Valley Bank at 191 West North Street at North Main Street in Manteca.
Walk-ins are welcome to enter the bank turned courthouse and get thrown in jail for a good cause supporting foster children needing good homes.  To receive a subpoena or to send a friend to jail, contact Katy Partan at 209.992.8346 and she will make it happen.
She can also be contacted on line at kpartan@agapevillages.org.
All proceeds will be used to help Agape Villages Foster Family Agency place abused and neglected children into loving and healing foster homes.  Agape Villages is a nonprofit charitable organization.
For more information, call Agape Villages Foster Family Agency call (209) 824-5365 or visit www.agapevillages.org.