Many families in at-risk environments have good intentions, but lack the family support needed to assist them in times of need. Without this support, they are on their own when facing serious life stressors, such as sudden loss of employment or housing, domestic violence, postpartum depression, physical injury, substance abuse, or having to go into the hospital. Many children in a family traumatized by crisis become especially at risk for abuse or neglect as their parents struggle to cope. As a result, these families face an increased threat of involvement with the child welfare system.
Safe, loving homes are provided where parents may voluntarily have their children cared for while parents seek to restore stability in their lives. Our dedication to family support, stabilization, and child abuse prevention is driven by responsibility for the well-being of children in our communities. Founded in 2002, Safe Families for Children has partnered with churches, local community agencies, and volunteer families, as well as government organizations in more than a dozen states. The Safe Families for Children network has provided essential extended-family relationships to over 2,000 children and their families annually. Learn more at safe-families.org.
Host Families, prompted solely by compassion, are screened, trained and serve without compensation. As a result, SFFC is a voluntary, non-coercive alternative to the state child welfare system. By temporarily freeing parents from the responsibility of caring for their child, SFFC provides them with time to address personal issues without fear of losing custody. In addition to Host Families, there are Family Friends who are volunteer parent mentors interested in coming alongside parents in supporting them to make the necessary changes. Since most parents we work with are in trouble because of a limited informal support system, Family Friends help to address this problem of parental isolation. Also, Volunteer Family Coaches work with the parent to connect them with local resources, facilitate the relationship between the Host Family and the parent, and ensure the safety of the child. Together, Volunteer Host Families, Family Friends, and the Family Coach provide a network of support around the parent struggling with a crisis and isolation.
YouShare is a website that creates an outlet for giving that builds transformational relationships between resource-differentiated families. It connects the specific needs of local families with the resources and talents of their neighbors. YouShare connects neighbors relating to three primary needs. First, YouShare is an engine to match families that desire hosting for their children in a safe home with volunteers willing to provide a safe home. Second, YouShare matches families with goods to families that need those goods. Items may include clothes, baby items, supplies, furniture, etc. Third, YouShare matches individuals with specific skills to families that are in need of those skills. Services may include medical visits, dental, counseling, babysitting, transportation, and plumbing.
Safe Families for Children strives to meet three objectives:
1. Child Welfare Deflection: Safe Families provides a safe alternative to child welfare custody, thus significantly reducing the number of children entering the child welfare system.
2. Child Abuse Prevention: Providing an overwhelmed and resource limited parent with a safe, temporary place for their child without threat of losing custody. By offering support, the goal is to avert potential abuse/neglect episodes.
3. Family Support and Stabilization: Many parents struggle because of limited social support and unavailable extended family. Many Safe Families Volunteers become the extended family that a parent never had.
According to the Maine Child Protective Services 2012 Annual Report, there were approximately 8,200 reports involving approximately 16,900 children assigned to a caseworker for assessment. Additionally approximately 9,300 referrals were made that did not contain any allegations of child abuse or neglect, but did present evidence of serious family problems or dysfunction. Of the assessed referrals, 31% were found as substantiated abuse or neglect. This means that there are more than 20,000 Maine children and families, not including families not referred to Child Protective Services, who could benefit from Safe Families for Children. The need is great and the need is now.
Won't you and your church join us?
No comments:
Post a Comment