“People often ask me, ‘How do you let them go?’” says Sophia Harvey. “But in my heart, I know they’re only with me for a season.”
For nearly a decade, Harvey - a Commercial Banking relationship specialist at Regions—has opened her home to children through Youth Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young people with emotional and behavioral challenges find stability and thrive. Her greatest hope for every child is the same: a safe reunification with their family.
She’s witnessed the difficult realities many children face, from the loss of a parent to other traumatic experiences. “I focus on giving them stability,” Harvey explains. “They want to feel like they belong. At first, some may push back against structure, but eventually they recognize it for what it is - love.”
Foster parenting wasn’t always part of Harvey’s life plan. When her own son turned 30, she felt a tug to explore the idea. “If you’d asked me years before, I would’ve said, ‘You’re out of your mind,’” she laughs. But after learning more about the need, her heart took over. “I told God, ‘You blessed me to raise my son,’ and I decided to give that same care to others.”
She completed interviews, classes, and certification, officially joining the more than 200,000 foster parents in the U.S.—a group whose numbers are shrinking even as demand grows.
Harvey admits the role can be challenging. “When a child you’ve never met moves in, you’re both strangers. You only truly get to know someone by living with them.” Her placements last anywhere from a week to a year and a half, and she fills that time with enriching experiences—whether it’s community service at a nursing home, helping distribute food in the neighborhood, or exploring Memphis and beyond.
She also makes room for joy. Shopping trips, first-time train or plane rides, even a trip to Disney World have all been part of her fostering journey. Closer to home, she teams up with fellow foster parent Brenda Brown, whom she met in a class seven years ago. Together, they organize activities like church gatherings and painting parties for their children, while also leaning on one another for guidance and support.
“Sophia will lift you up with scripture or prayer,” says Brown, who has adopted seven children during her 30-plus years of fostering. “She has a heart of gold and will give you anything you need.”
In Harvey’s home, every child has their own bedroom with a large bed, sofa, and TV—but more importantly, they have a place where they are genuinely loved and cared for. “I want them to feel safe, valued, and understood while they’re with me,” she says.
Even after children leave, they remain part of her life. “The first child I fostered called me five years later. That meant everything to me,” Harvey shares. “You miss them deeply and hope they thrive.”
Her message to those thinking about fostering is simple: “If you have the time, love, and patience, do it. It’s hard work, but it’s deeply rewarding. I give it my all because every child deserves to be loved.”
For nearly a decade, Harvey - a Commercial Banking relationship specialist at Regions—has opened her home to children through Youth Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young people with emotional and behavioral challenges find stability and thrive. Her greatest hope for every child is the same: a safe reunification with their family.
She’s witnessed the difficult realities many children face, from the loss of a parent to other traumatic experiences. “I focus on giving them stability,” Harvey explains. “They want to feel like they belong. At first, some may push back against structure, but eventually they recognize it for what it is - love.”
Foster parenting wasn’t always part of Harvey’s life plan. When her own son turned 30, she felt a tug to explore the idea. “If you’d asked me years before, I would’ve said, ‘You’re out of your mind,’” she laughs. But after learning more about the need, her heart took over. “I told God, ‘You blessed me to raise my son,’ and I decided to give that same care to others.”
She completed interviews, classes, and certification, officially joining the more than 200,000 foster parents in the U.S.—a group whose numbers are shrinking even as demand grows.
Harvey admits the role can be challenging. “When a child you’ve never met moves in, you’re both strangers. You only truly get to know someone by living with them.” Her placements last anywhere from a week to a year and a half, and she fills that time with enriching experiences—whether it’s community service at a nursing home, helping distribute food in the neighborhood, or exploring Memphis and beyond.
She also makes room for joy. Shopping trips, first-time train or plane rides, even a trip to Disney World have all been part of her fostering journey. Closer to home, she teams up with fellow foster parent Brenda Brown, whom she met in a class seven years ago. Together, they organize activities like church gatherings and painting parties for their children, while also leaning on one another for guidance and support.
“Sophia will lift you up with scripture or prayer,” says Brown, who has adopted seven children during her 30-plus years of fostering. “She has a heart of gold and will give you anything you need.”
In Harvey’s home, every child has their own bedroom with a large bed, sofa, and TV—but more importantly, they have a place where they are genuinely loved and cared for. “I want them to feel safe, valued, and understood while they’re with me,” she says.
Even after children leave, they remain part of her life. “The first child I fostered called me five years later. That meant everything to me,” Harvey shares. “You miss them deeply and hope they thrive.”
Her message to those thinking about fostering is simple: “If you have the time, love, and patience, do it. It’s hard work, but it’s deeply rewarding. I give it my all because every child deserves to be loved.”