How it works

Parents experiencing a temporary crisis can arrange for their children (newborn through 18 years old) to stay with Safe Families volunteers while they address the issues that led to the instability in their lives.  Safe Families volunteers are supervised by their area church, which in turn is supported by professional child care specialists. Children are matched with families in their own community whenever possible, and placements average from one day to three months. During that time, Safe Families caseworkers are available to provide volunteers with support and answer any questions they might have.

Volunteers open their homes to children whose parents are experiencing a short-term emergency, such as hospitalization, or a longer-term crisis, such as drug abuse. Designed to extend and strengthen the community safety net for at-risk families, Safe Families is a positive alternative to the state child welfare system, allowing parents to work out their problems without having to worry about losing custody of their children.

The program’s goal is to reunite children with their biological parent(s) in a home that is more stable and healthy, in part because of the contribution of the Safe Families intervention.

What about the parents?

Biological parents maintain custody during the placement and are encouraged to be actively involved in their children’s lives, as well as develop a relationship with the volunteer family. Safe Families caseworkers keep in close contact with the parents in planning for a healthy reunification of the family.

Why don’t the kids have a place to go?

When crisis strikes many of us rely on relatives and our church family for support. But for some parents, there isn’t a safety net. Often problems such as illness, drug addiction, domestic abuse or unemployment can be debilitating, making it impossible for parents to care for their children.

Positive family reunification is our number one priority, and through Safe Families an overwhelming 85% of children have been returned to their biological parents and 90% have been deflected from state custody.

Hallmarks of the Safe Family Model:
Biological parents maintain full custody
Volunteer families are extensively screened, educated, and supported
Six-week average length of stay (ranging from two days to a year)
Close working relationships between Safe Families, the local church, and the referring organization
Commitment to reunite the family as soon as possible
Fully funded by private donations

Safe Families for Children expands the community safety net by providing parents in need on their own or at the recommendation of a case worker a loving sanctuary where they can safely place their children in times of crisis. Host Families, prompted solely by compassion, are screened, trained and serve without compensation. Designed to positively impact and support at-risk families, Safe Families is a non-coercive alternative to the state child welfare system, allowing parents to work out their problems without having to worry about losing custody of their child. Safe Families is a collaborative effort bringing together a network of churches, ministries, and social service providers for a common goal—to reunite children with their biological parent(s) in a home that is more stable and healthy. Relying on the strengths and drawing upon the expertise of each of these organizations, host families are supported, educated and regularly visited to ensure the experience is successful for everyone involved.

The Safe Families Project strives to meet these objectives:

Early Intervention: Safe Families provides a safe alternative to child welfare custody. Families are given time to address risk factors in their lives that, if left unattended, could result in substantiated abuse or neglect of children. (Please see attached article, “CPS: Outrage at rising death toll Kids in 7 case files have died since September.” The Sacramento Bee, July 30, 2008)

Child Abuse Prevention: Providing an overwhelmed and resource limited parent with a safe, temporary place for their child without threat of losing custody can avert potential abuse/neglect episodes. Family Support and Stabilization: Many parents struggle because of limited informal social supports and unavailable extended family. Many Safe Families become the extended family that a parent never had.

Are you ready to help?

We can’t do this alone. We work with local area churches and volunteers! Safe Families for Children provides a loving sanctuary where parents can safely and voluntarily place their children in times of need. Founded in 2002 by LYDIA Home Association, a Chicago-based Christian social service organization, Safe Families for Children has partnered with the local church to grow a network of over 500 volunteer families serving as many as 300 families in crisis each year.  Successfully established in six states, Safe Families for Children has now joined forces with Olive Crest to provide homes of refuge for children in California, Nevada and Washington.

Become a Safe Family Supporter

Safe Families is a donor-funded program. Gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, churches and organizations provide the resources necessary to implement the Safe Families program. To make a gift, click here or contact Lois Verleur at 1-800-550-CHILD (2445), ext. 1120 for more information.

Become a Safe Family

California
To become a safe family contact Renee Franks at 1-800-550-CHILD (2445), ext. 1234 or get connected with a Safe Families for Children church, contact Karen Bergstrom at 1-800-550-CHILD (2445), ext. 1174.

Pacific Northwest
To become a safe family, click here. To request a church or agency presentation, contact Elliot Stockstad, Director of Safe Families for Children (WA) at 253-212-1355.