Check out this Bham Now feature on one of our newest clients, Freedom Farm:
New foster home community creating a fresh start for Alabama’s foster children
In the small town of Coker in west Alabama, a devoted group of people are dedicating their time, energy and money to help solve one of the state’s most pressing issues: how to properly care for the 6,000 children in Alabama’s foster care system.
To do so, the group is developing Freedom Farm, a nurturing community that offers abused, abandoned and at-risk youth the love and stability that every child deserves.
Creating a new beginning for Alabama’s foster children
To learn the full story about Freedom Farm, you need to talk to founder Dr. John Waits.
As the Medical Director of DCH Wound Care and a Tuscaloosa surgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Waits has always had a soft spot for children in the foster care system.
“Through my work, I began noticing children who drew the short stick when it comes to life. Since I grew up in a secure home with two loving parents, my heart went out to those kids. And I was never able to shake that thought of those kids from my heart.”
Through church, life and work, Dr. Waits connected with Weldon Cole, Cathy Wood, Joseph Deason and other individuals who shared his passion for supporting foster children. Together, they crafted the vision for Freedom Farm.
“At its core, Freedom Farm is a community of foster homes that will provide housing, resources and support for neglected and abused children in Alabama’s foster care system. At Freedom Farm, we aim to give our children the ‘freedom to soar.”
According to Executive Director Cathy Wood, each foster child at Freedom Farm will be given three promises, each represented by a symbol:
An anchor, representing the safety, security, stability and love they will receive.
A compass, representing the roadmap to life provided by Freedom Farm
A cross, representing hope
“Many of the children in Alabama’s foster system have trust issues, and understandably. We had one child who, by the age of nine, had lived in 22 foster homes. That kind of upbringing has a noticeable effect on their psyche.
Through love, support and programs like equine therapy, we want to help these children break out of the shell they’ve been forced to create and get to live the life a child should.”
Bringing the vision for Freedom Farm to life
To help bring their vision to reality, the Freedom Farm team hired Birchfield Penuel Architects (BPA), a Birmingham-based full-service architecture and design firm headquartered in downtown Homewood.
“BPA and Freedom Farm share a deep commitment to community, care, and lasting impact. With our extensive masterplanning experience and passion for designing spaces that foster connection and well-being, we bring a thoughtful and intentional approach to every project.
Freedom Farm’s mission to create a nurturing environment for foster families aligns perfectly with our dedication to designing spaces that uplift and support people. This shared vision makes our partnership a natural and meaningful fit.”
After meeting with Dr. Waits and other members of the Freedom Farm team, BPA’s team of architects developed and presented a master plan for the foster care community. Located on an 80-acre property donated by Dr. Waits in Coker, AL, the Freedom Farm campus will include:
A foster home neighborhood to house 100 children
Playgrounds
Freedom Center with gymnasium and gathering spaces
An event pavilion
A general store
Oak tree meditation garden
An equestrian barn + walking/riding trails
A garden center + teaching garden
Beautiful views of pastureland
And more
“Working with [Birchfield Penuel Architects] has been a pleasure, but what really made a difference to me is the fact that they really care.
When I tell someone about Freedom Farm, most will just nod their heads; the Birchfield Penuel Architects team came all the way out to the land and truly seemed to buy into our vision.”
To read the full story, click here!