Our History

Mark A. Tennant had a dream of being able to offer foster children the same high quality, Christian-value based care he had received as a foster child. In 1992, the dream of this former foster child became reality when Mark founded The Arrow Project in Austin, Texas.

As a former foster child, Mark gained unique insight into the foster care system. His foster parents repeatedly assured him that he was their son and he would always be welcome in their home. His parents would repeat the words of a verse from Psalm 127, "Children are a gift of the Lord, like arrows in the hand of a warrior." Those words became the scripture foundation of The Arrow Project.

Mark has an extensive background in the administration of children and family service agencies. Before beginning The Arrow Project, Mark worked for several years as vice president of another agency that provided foster care. He began operations for that agency in Texas and led it to achieve a solid record of service.

Mark had a dream of being able to offer other foster children the same high quality, Christian-value based care he had received as a child. The philosophy of The Arrow Project, recently renamed Arrow Child & Family Ministries is encapsulated in our mission statement: Arrow Child & Family Ministries, serves to advance the well being of children, families, communities, and culture by providing an array of services and engaging the local church to promote Christian responsibility and commitment to strengthen family life.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries focuses on treatment foster care for children who have been severely traumatized by abuse and/or neglect. Arrow Child & Family Ministries provides clinical case management and in-home therapy to children who have been physically, psychologically, or sexually abused, are medically fragile, or have been in trouble with the authorities. The objectives of treatment foster care are to rescue children from immediate trauma, provide a nurturing environment where they can learn to love and trust again, create a climate that is conducive to a normal maturation process, and prepare them for independent living when they "age out" of foster care.

We have grown significantly in the last several years. In Texas, Arrow Child & Family Ministries has foster care offices in Abilene, Angleton, Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler, Victoria and Waco. Mark has said, "Being the largest foster care provider was never our goal. We just want to be the best!"

Arrow Child & Family Ministries began work in the state of Maryland in 1996 to help meet a critical need of educating children with special needs. The Maryland operation includes treatment foster care, Arrow Diagnostic Center, and Arrow Center for Education (on two campuses).

In 2005, we expanded our foster care program in Maryland to include Maryland's Eastern Shore. In 2006, The Arrow Project opened a transitional living facility for females in Maryland, we began foster care operations in Pennsylvania.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries current priorities include the continued development of our Arrow Crossroads Community and extending foster care throughout Southern Maryland.

Mark Tennant continues to serve as Chairman/CEO of Arrow Child & Family Ministries. Mark's passion to develop and provide children and family services that exceed traditional standards permeates the entire organization. Higher standards and a personal commitment from each member of The Arrow Family assures continued success in "Helping Kids & Strengthening Families!"

Arrow Child & Family Ministries is a proud member of these prominent organizations.

• MANSEF- Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities
• MARFY- Maryland Associations of Resources for Families & Youth
• NAPSEC – National Association of Private Special Education Centers
• NCASES – National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services
• North American Association of Christians in Social Work
• Texas Alliance of Child & Family Services
• PPAT- Private Provider Association of Texas
• Adoption Coalition of Texas
• One Voice Harris County
• Interagency Foster Care Collaborative
• Texas Foster Family Association
• The Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Family Services (PCCYFS)
• The Pennsylvania State Resource Parent Association
• The Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN)
• Blair County Health and Welfare Council
• Chamber of Commerce
TX Corsicana
TX Porter
TX Humble
TX Houston NW
TX Round Rock
MD Baltimore