Weekly Insights: Safe Families for Children of the Treasure Coast
Last year in Indian River County, there were just over 500 children in foster care and the rate of child abuse was 446.1 per 100,000 children. Safe Families for Children helps to prevent these adverse outcomes by hosting vulnerable children and creating extended family-like supports for families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by compassion to keep children safe and families together.
Safe Families surrounds families who are socially isolated and facing hardship or crisis. The organization fills in the relational gaps, not duplicating professional services like case management or therapy, but offering extended-family like support. The organization's thoroughly trained and vetted volunteers are matched with caregivers wanting emotional and tangible support. The three objectives of Safe Families for Children are:
- Keep children safe during a family crisis such as homelessness, hospitalization, or domestic violence in an effort to prevent child abuse and/or neglect.
- Support, stabilize, and strengthen families facing crisis by surrounding them with caring, compassionate community.
- Reunite families and reduce the number of children entering the child welfare system. We seek to be an alternative to foster care, where appropriate.
They have multiple ways volunteers can come alongside families in a Circle of Support model. Volunteer roles include Host Family, Family Friend, Family Coach, and Resource Friend. Parents can voluntarily ask that Host Families keep their children in their home for short periods of time while they work on their situation. Just like an aunt, uncle or grandparent would, these Host Families provide food, shelter and love to the children who stay with them. Kids can visit with their parents and keep up with activities while with their Host Family. Family Friends can support both parents and children, perhaps with short-term babysitting or outings. Family Friends and parents typically talk once a week and aim to get together in person at least once a month.
They share concerns, hopes, ask questions about community services or even parenting. Each caregiver we support gets a Family Coach to help them problem solve, prioritize goals, and connect with community resources that might help their family. We work closely with community partners when we support the families to ensure continuity of care and goals as well, such as Hope for Families Center, Homeless Children's Foundation, Childcare Resources, Samaritan Center, United Against Poverty, and others. Our generous donor community makes stories like the ones below possible.
Testimonials:
Margie* shared this text: “Thank you for our date. Thanks for the breather. Every time that you step in or show up it gives me hope that I’ll make it. For the past 2 weeks I felt like giving up. You are one of the reasons that I am still trying and still hopeful about my success out of the shelter. Thank you for caring and you are a part of our family for life.”
With no family nearby and no other support system, Autumn* did not know who to turn to when she needed care for her two young sons. Her daughter was having a baby and Autumn wanted to be there for her at the hospital during labor and delivery. Not wanting to leave her sons unattended, Autumn finally contacted the police department to see what her options were and was referred to Safe Families for Children. Autumn and her family were able to meet a host family and have several visits before the overnight hosting so that the boys were comfortable when the time came for their nephew to be born. Autumn continues to express her amazement and gratitude for the hosting and the friendship that has developed from it. Since that initial meeting over a year ago, the families still get together for meals, playdates, special events and birthday celebrations.
Sandy* called SFFC to request a host family for her 4 minor children because their father was soon to be incarcerated. She did not believe she would be able to care for her children without help because she was struggling with both physical and mental health concerns. Although she had always been strong and capable, she had to drop out of nursing school due to debilitating panic attacks. She was no longer able to walk into a public place or drive more than a few blocks without extreme anxiety. The physical symptoms were so intense that Sandy was afraid she was dying and was concerned about who would take care of her children. A SFFC Family Friend provided support, encouragement and prayer during home visits and phone calls. She accompanied Sandy to doctor's appointments, listened to her concerns, advocated for her when necessary and walked alongside her until she received an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Hosting was not needed. What Sandy really needed was a friend so she did not have to face this crisis alone. It was a huge win when Sandy was able to walk into a restaurant and order take out with her new Friend standing by her side to provide support. It was an even bigger win, not too long afterward, when she invited her Friend out to lunch to celebrate passing her first exam after restarting nursing school. Now Sandy is confidently taking care of her children, pursuing her dreams and actively participating in a reciprocal friendship while considering how she will pay it forward.
Weekly Insights works in conjunction with Indian River Indicators. Indian River Indicators was launched in June 2021 and originated after the completion of the 2019 Indian River Community Needs Assessment. It provides key data and information about our community that is updated annually and can be used to support and sustain proven programs. It can also be used by community leaders to develop policy, promote promising practices and inspire innovation that can lead to solutions to persistent community challenges.
To learn more visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org and click “Indian River Indicators” or contact a member of the Community Foundation’s team at 772.492.1407.