Safe Families: Helping parents facing crisis
Safe Families: Helping parents facing crisis
What is Safe Families for Children?
Safe Families is a movement that began more than 20 years ago—a partnership between churches and community volunteers to support families through times of crisis. The goal is prevention: so parents can get the help they need to stabilize their situation and keep their family together in that crisis, before foster care is ever on the table.
This video provides an overview of what makes Safe Families unique and sets up the rest of the series.
Do you have more questions?
Strengthen and keep families together
When a family is facing crisis, kids can become vulnerable to neglect and abuse. No family should experience this.
Many parents rely on relatives and friends for support. But for some, this is not enough—or even an option.
That’s where Safe Families—and volunteers like you—come in. You can be part of a supportive community for parents as they strive to overcome poverty, homelessness, health issues, job loss, or other obstacles.
FAQs about Safe Families
What issues are families facing?
Some families face crises like unemployment, homelessness, or deep financial stress. In other cases, parents need time to recover from substance use or mental health challenges.
What ages of children does Safe Families serve?
While we can care for newborns through adolescents (0-17), the average age is 4-6 years old.
How old do I need to be to volunteer?
We generally require volunteers to be 25 years or older, but exceptions can be made.
How can I become a volunteer?
First, fill out our contact form. We’ll connect you to a Safe Families coordinator in your area who will help you identify the best-fitting role for you or your family. You’ll complete an application, take part in an interview and home assessment, and submit references and information for a background check. You’ll then participate in online training.
What’s the length of my commitment if I choose to be a Host Family?
The average stay for a child in your home is about 30 days. However, we hope that you and the family you’re supporting will form a lasting relationship.
How can my church support Safe Families?
There are many ways your church can get involved. A few ideas are to:
- Provide gift cards to grocery, clothing, and home goods stores or for public transportation such as bus passes or Uber/Lyft gift cards.
- Make and distribute meals to Host Families when they host a child.
- Create and manage a clothing and supply closet at your location. Host a drive for requested items such as various sizes of clothing, coats, diapers, baby items, etc.
- Offer professional expertise and donations of services such as dental, medical, budgeting, resume writing and interview skill building, or legal services.
- Transport adult clients to appointments after approval as a Family Friend.
- Help as an office assistant by answering the phone, doing data entry, etc.
How to become a volunteer
Host Family
Open your home as a temporary, safe place for a child whose parent needs extra support.
Family Friend
Encourage and strengthen families facing crisis by performing small tasks. Make a difference by offering support, encouragement, mentoring, transportation, or babysitting to a parent who may be feeling isolated and has no support.
Resource Friend
Give items such as furniture and bicycles to families struggling with life challenges. Donating these items can meet families’ critical needs. Support can look like providing a meal, diapers, cleaning items, or gift cards that help parents as they work through crisis.
Family Coach
Walk alongside a parent, helping them meet their goals and connecting them with volunteers to ensure their needs are met.
Stories of lives impacted by Safe Families
Stories of lives impacted by Safe Families
A second chance at home
When Kim’s husband died suddenly, her biggest fear was that their children would go into foster care. Thanks to Safe Families for Children, her family now shares a lasting community network of support.
Finding family during COVID-19
When parents are going through a crisis, volunteer Host Families offer loving care to parents, watching over their children while the parents regain stability. For Rena, it meant finding family in the face of a global pandemic.
Finding my lasting family
When parents like Lisa face situations beyond their control, their children can become vulnerable to neglect or abuse. Lisa wanted her boys to have a healthier and happier childhood than what she experienced.
Become a volunteer
Help families in your community by
- Providing transportation
- Offering a meal
- Caring for children
- Becoming a Host Family
- Dropping off diapers or resources
Learn more about how you can make an impact today.
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