Our Story

Who We Are

In 2003, the Safe Families for Children (SFFC) movement began in Chicago. Since then, we have opened over 108 chapters around the globe and engaged over 4,600 faith communities who open their hearts and homes to care for vulnerable children. In 2016, our local chapter launched with the belief in Safe Families’ vision that Jesus calls us to “care for the least of these,” and defend the fatherless.

Our local team offers a Circle of Support (COS) volunteer group that consists of a Host Family, Family Coach, Family Friend, Resource Friend, and a Ministry Lead/or Ministry Lead team who serve as a liaison between chapter staff and our church partners. We’ve had over 135 hostings with a 98% reunification rate of children returning home to their parents or an identified relative that has agreed to care for them. Currently, we have more than 107 volunteers directly involved with loving on families, offering friendship, meeting needs, and mentoring.

Safe Families for Children hosts children and creates extended family-like support for parents who have nowhere else to turn through a community of devoted volunteers motivated by faith to keep children safe and families together.

Creating a world where children are safe and families transformed through radically compassionate communities.

Radical Hospitality

Disruptive Generosity

Intentional Compassion

Who We Serve

When crisis strikes, many of us rely on family and friends for support and encouragement. For some parents, this is not an option. Crisis can look like homelessness, unemployment, hospitalization, domestic violence, incarceration, substance abuse treatment, and many other concerns. Our trained volunteers offer support, which often involve providing a loving, temporary home for children while parents work on reaching stability.

Typically, parents partner with SFFC to host their children in the safety of the host home, while working with other members of the COS to handle their crisis situation. Our main objectives are family support and stabilization, preventing abuse and neglect, and deflecting children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system. If you are a referring agency or have questions about intake, please view our Referral Guidelines here.