Safe Families for Children seeks to bring the church and community together to keep children safe and families together. Safe Families for Children is rooted in faith, fueled by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion, to build a network of caring and compassionate volunteers to support families facing social isolation. Our goal is to support and strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and reduce the number of children unnecessarily entering the child welfare system.
Twenty years ago, I believe the Lord put a calling on my life. After working in ministry, launching a church, and then running a child welfare agency, I believe the Lord gave me the mission of Safe Families. It was driven by an incredible sadness regarding the suffering children have to endure related to child abuse and retraumatizing in the child welfare system. Research shows that children who remain at home even with marginal parents have better outcomes than those children who are forcibly removed and experience the placement disruption of foster care.
That’s where Safe Families came in. My passion was to help the most vulnerable children and their parents. These are families that are on the edge of going into foster care. These are families that had no one to call when facing a crisis or dealing with unmanageable circumstances. However, how do we help them? At the same time, my heart was burdened with the mission of the Church, and its unique calling to change agents in society. As I continued to pray, the Lord birthed a powerful vision for the Church to answer the call to support vulnerable children and families through biblical hospitality.
Safe Families For Children serves families who lack social networks and live in isolation without support of family and friends dealing with crises such as homelessness, unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence, medical emergencies and alcohol/drug rehabilitation.
Safe Families for Children helps provide radical hospitality to families in crisis.
Learn how you can be part of our Circle of Support and make a difference today!
Safe Families for Children has many chapters around the country who can serve you and whom you can serve!
The Family First Prevention Services Act focuses federal and state dollars on family services to prevent foster care placements. Chicago, IL – Safe Families for Children (SFFC) announces its official recognition as a support program by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse, making the non-profit organization eligible for potential Title IV-E reimbursement under the Family First Prevention…
Over the years, research has confirmed what we have long known at Safe Families. Long-term relationships can help people facing crises by creating a stable foundation of trust, safety, and consistent support. This secure environment can foster resilience, reduce stress, and combat feelings of isolation during challenging times. The history and shared experiences within a long-term…
by Dr. Dave Anderson, Founder and Executive Director of Safe Families for Children In July, we received some incredible news that I’m so excited to announce. Safe Families for Children (SFFC) has been approved as one of only 29 nationally recognized support programs that state child welfare departments can implement to satisfy the federal mandate…
“I was lost, depressed, scared, and alone.” Tia was struggling with severe depression when she was fired from her minimum-wage job. Unable to make rent, Tia and her nine-year-old son, Austin, were evicted from their studio apartment. With nowhere to turn and no one to help, Tia was desperate for a caring and compassionate community.…
by Jennifer Tuinstra, Safe Families SW Michigan Chapter Rarely does “and they all lived happily ever after” conclude a real story. The ups and downs, the twists and turns throughout a journey: these are where God cultivates true discipleship. Safe Families helps the church hold fast to hurting people through life’s storms while displaying the…
by Micah Ventura, Program Director, Greater Portland, OR In my previous role as a crisis intervention family therapist, I often found that the most meaningful conversations with teens occurred during our drives together in my trusty two-door Honda Civic, affectionately named Percy. The car became an unexpected sanctuary for open dialogue as we journeyed with the music…
