Freedom Farm – A Beacon of Hope in Coker

Just a short drive from Northport, nestled on 80 acres in Coker, lies a special place called Freedom Farm. This faith-based nonprofit offers a sanctuary to children who have endured some of life’s hardest challenges—abuse, neglect, and abandonment. At Freedom Farm, the goal is to provide what every child deserves: an anchor of stability, a compass to guide their future, and a cross to remind them of hope through faith. 

The vision started with Dr. Johnny Waits, a Tuscaloosa surgeon who felt called to help children in foster care. His dream quickly became a shared mission, with leaders like Board Chair Weldon Cole and Executive Director Cathy Joiner Wood joining forces with community partners and volunteers to bring Freedom Farm to life. They’ve been inspired by similar ministries like Big Oak Ranch and are determined to meet the critical need here in Alabama, where more than 6,000 children are in state custody, but fewer than 2,300 foster homes are available. Freedom Farm is working to address this urgent need. 

The campus itself is being built as a true community. Plans include family-style homes where children live with loving parents, activity centers, playgrounds, equestrian trails, and even a chapel that was dedicated in 2024. It’s a place where kids can heal, grow, and simply be kids again. Many children entering foster care have experienced dozens of placements before finding stability—Freedom Farm aims to rewrite that story by offering consistency, love, and faith-filled guidance. 

This vision is only possible with the support of neighbors who believe in brighter futures for children. Generous support from state, county, and city officials—as well as foundations and individual donors—has already helped lay the groundwork, but the need is ongoing as Freedom Farm works toward its goal to complete the campus and expand its reach. 

Whether through volunteering, giving, or simply sharing the story, there are many ways for our community to be part of this mission. Freedom Farm reminds us that, together, we can provide safe homes, nurturing love, and lasting hope for Alabama’s most vulnerable children.

What Foster Care Really Looks Like in Alabama: A Visit to Freedom Farm for Families Considering Fostering

Credit: Erica DeSpain AllThingsMadison.com

What Foster Care Really Looks Like at Freedom Farm

Freedom Farm is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, both the physical property and its mission.

This 80-acre property in Alabama is made up of real houses with real families, and your family may be the next to call it home!

Each home is licensed for six foster children, along with a mom, a dad, and up to three of the foster parents’ own children.

Each home on the property includes: Seven bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, A playroom, A safe room and more! Homes are built in rows of three or four, creating the most beautiful kind of community.

The goal is simple and profound: to offer stability, routine, and safety so that foster children can begin healing.

Why Foster Families Are Needed

The first family moved in at Freedom Farm in January 2025, and this coming January, three more homes will be completed, ready for foster parents to move in and say yes to this opportunity.

Many children who enter foster care in nearby counties are placed far from what is familiar to them, not because it’s best for them, but because there simply aren’t enough local foster families.

Freedom Farm partners with Alabama DHR (Department of Human Resources) and serves children from multiple counties, helping bridge this gap and keep children closer to home whenever possible.

A Supported Path to Becoming a Foster Family

If you’ve ever swirled the idea (or felt a calling) to become a foster family, Freedom Farm offers a more straightforward, heavily supported path forward.

Freedom Farm understands that one of the hardest parts of foster care is how lonely it can feel. That’s why they’ve intentionally designed a community that gives foster families a true sense of belonging.

Here’s what foster families receive: A brand-new construction home, all utilities paid. A family van, with expenses covered. The regular DHR foster care stipend. Ongoing check-ins and support from the Freedom Farm team.

Families meet regularly with the team to talk through challenges, support needs, and next steps.

Freedom Farm also partners with individuals, churches, and groups who help fill in the gaps, providing games, puzzles, vouchers for outings and experiences, and other forms of practical support.

The Heart Behind Freedom Farm

Freedom Farm sits on land donated by Tuscaloosa surgeon Dr. Johnny Waits, following the personal tragedy of losing his son Jared in 2017 during a farming accident on the land. Beauty from ashes.

The first structure built on the property, a beautiful chapel, was built on the spot where Dr. Waits found Jared’s body. The chapel now stands as a symbol of healing and hope.

Four homes are nearly complete, and 14 more homes will soon be under construction. Each will be part of a micro-community with three to four other families, reinforcing the idea that foster care should never be done alone.

Freedom Farm desires to serve as an anchor, providing stability and safety when a child’s world has felt anything but steady. It aims to be a compass, helping guide children toward healthy decisions, restored identity, and a hopeful future. And above all, Freedom Farm seeks to be a home where children are genuinely loved, valued, and reminded every day that God has big plans for their lives!

Is Foster Care the Right Next Step for Your Family?

In short, Freedom Farm provides traditional foster care in partnership with Alabama DHR, and their greatest need is not land, buildings, or even funding.

Their greatest need is families that are willing to learn, show up, and explore whether becoming a foster family could be part of their story.

 If this stirred even a small curiosity, your next step is a simple conversation.

Freedom Farm is happy to answer questions, share what foster care actually looks like, and welcome families to visit the property. Churches, volunteers, financial partners, and families exploring foster care are all welcome.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Foster Family in Alabama

What is Freedom Farm?

Freedom Farm is a foster care community in Alabama that partners with Alabama DHR (Department of Human Resources) to provide traditional foster care in a highly supportive, community-based environment for foster families.

Who can become a foster family at Freedom Farm?

Families from across Alabama can apply.

Do foster families live on-site at Freedom Farm?

Yes. Foster families live in brand-new homes on the Freedom Farm property, intentionally designed to provide safety, stability, and a built-in sense of community so foster families are never isolated.

How many children are placed in each foster home?

Each home is licensed for up to six foster children, along with the foster parents and up to three of their children.

What support do foster families receive?

Foster families receive extensive support, including:

• A new-construction home

• All utilities paid

• A family van, with expenses covered

• The standard Alabama DHR foster care stipend

• Ongoing guidance and check-ins from the Freedom Farm team

• Community partner/resource connections

This allows families to focus on care and healing rather than financial strain.

Is Freedom Farm a faith-based foster care program?

Freedom Farm was founded with faith-driven values centered on healing, hope, and community, while operating fully within traditional foster care guidelines through Alabama DHR.

How do I start the process of becoming a foster parent?

Freedom Farm welcomes questions, visits, and honest discussions with families who want to learn more about becoming a foster family in Alabama.

To learn more and start a conversation, visit FREEDOMFARMAL.ORG

or call (205) 736-4001