Safe Families is a movement that began more than twenty years ago. It is a partnership between churches and community volunteers that supports 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 before foster care is ever on the table.  Safe Families helps parents who need support—a safe place for their children to stay so they can secure stable housing, have surgery, get well in rehab, finish school, and more. It creates space for them to take short-term action now that will put their family on a more stable, long-term path for the future.  

Strengthening Families 

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.

How can you volunteer?

There are four primary ways individuals and families can volunteer: family friend, resource friend, family coach, or host family. These roles all work together, forming a circle of support around each family.

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.

Family Coach - Walk alongside a parent, helping them meet their goals and connecting them with volunteers to ensure their needs are met.

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.