by Jessica Frost, Engagement Coordinator for Safe Families Greater Milwaukee Chapter
With parental stress reaching new heights of concern, as suggested by the 2024 U.S. Surgeon General report, communities must work together to address this crisis to help stressors that impact the mental health and well-being of parents to care for and provide for their children. A culture of compassion is urgently needed as WE ARE CALLED UPON to surround families with a caring, compassionate community so children can be safe and families stay together.
What sets Safe Families for Children apart is the emphasis on prevention. The goal is to surround a family facing a crisis with a Circle of Support before the devastation of child removal and family separation. We seek to provide true “family-like” support so parents can stabilize their crisis situation, get back on their feet, and strengthen their home situation so children can thrive in the home.
Lakasha reached out to Safe Families for Children for hosting support for her nine children. She was experiencing some mental health issues and was overwhelmed by the stress of caring and providing for nine children. Yes! Nine children! She is an amazing mom to her five biological children and the four children for whom she has been given guardianship. Lakasha worked full-time as a third-grade teacher and did her best to provide for and support her family. This home was full of love and respect. On the recommendation of her mentor, Lakasha made the courageous decision to reach out for support.
In her own words, “I was really going through it. I was struggling with severe depression and anxiety, and I felt like there was no way out. I didn’t have much support, but I thank God for the Safe Families community!! With their support, I have been able to obtain much-needed treatment for my mental health. I was connected with many volunteers to help support and care for my children as I got the treatment that I needed. I also gained family friends, such as Amy and Julie, walking beside me on my healing journey. I don’t know where I’d be if God hadn’t sent the Safe Families community my way!” -Lakasha
She reached out to us due to some mental health struggles, and she needed a hosting. She had already sought help through the county, but they could not help. But she didn’t give up and was willing to reach out again. This was a huge ask! But as Safe Families, we want to say YES even to these impossible situations. So, the staff got to work. Only God can get the glory for us being able to pull off a hosting of nine kids at seven different schools with all available volunteers in various counties.
It was all hands on deck, and let me tell you: it was a privilege. With 48 volunteers and 2,300 miles traveled in a week, Safe Families for Children provided genuine wrap-around support for this family. A volunteer shared, “These kids are a true reflection of their mom: kind and respectful.” One of our staff teared up at these kids’ joy when their mom returned home: “It was beautiful—they really love her so much.” Reuniting families is what it is all about!
One of Lakasha’s goals was to move to a new house. Now that she had established a great Circle of Support with our volunteers, we checked in on this goal. To our delight, she had found a place to live and had already moved! Due to circumstances out of her control, she had to leave many of her belongings behind. Still, her Circle of Support and our Safe Families volunteers keep rising to assist as she gets re-established. We can’t wait to see what God has for their future.
This is an amazing story of God’s provision, but it also represents the heart of Safe Families. With partnering churches from around our city, we supported this mom so she could get back on her feet and stabilize her home situation. Without all of the roles (big and small) that volunteers filled, the hosting and friendships wouldn’t be possible. That is why there is such a need for EVERYONE to be involved. That means host families, family friends, family coaches, resource friends, prayer warriors, donors, community partnerships, and the list goes on.
To keep up with referrals and the ongoing needs of families in our community, we need to partner with more churches, train more volunteers, and walk alongside of parents like Lakasha, who are brave enough to reach out for help.