Safe Families for Children/Central PA

Safe Families for Children/Central PA Many children need a safe place to go while their parents deal with a crisis. Learn how you can provide a temporary, safe home for a vulnerable child.

Safe Families for Children
Ministering God’s Love to Families in Need

Safe Families for Children offers volunteers an opportunity to transform their communities by reaching out to care for children whose parents are facing challenges. Right from their own homes, families participate in ministry by offering hospitality, hope, and the love of Christ to families in a crisis that could temporarily je

opardize the parents’ ability to provide safety and stability for their children. As a Safe Family, volunteers host children for a short period of time, allowing the child's parent(s) to focus on resolving the issues that led to the crisis. The average length of a child's stay in a Safe Family home is about 45 days but is assessed on a case-by-case basis and can vary in length, depending on the needs of child and each family. After being screened and trained by Bethany staff, volunteers join a support network offering families temporary respite care for their children during the earliest signs of a crisis. Safe Families, who are primarily from area churches, open their homes and provide a child with a safe, nurturing place to live while his or her parents work to bring stability back to their family. Because placement with a Safe Family is voluntary, parents never have to worry about losing custody of their children while they work out their problems, and they may request that their children return at any time. Safe Families is not foster care or adoption—the goal of the program is the reunification of children with their biological parent(s) in a home that is more stable and healthy. Mothers and fathers going through a temporary crisis can request a volunteer Safe Family to host their children (from newborns through age 17) while they work to resolve the issues that led to the situation. Most children placed with a Safe Family are 6 years old or younger. Whenever possible, children stay with a family in the same community and remain in contact with their biological parents through phone calls and visits. In addition to screening and training volunteers, Bethany also offers ongoing support to volunteers as they care for children. Bethany also works with the biological parents during the placement to help them identify steps to regain stability and be reunited with their child quickly and safely.

When families lack practical supports such as stable employment, secure housing, and dependable child care, they can bec...
04/24/2025

When families lack practical supports such as stable employment, secure housing, and dependable child care, they can become at greater risk for child welfare involvement.

Safe Families surrounds parents with Circles of Support, offering a network of resources and relationships that help stabilize and strengthen family units. When parents are supported, we believe children can thrive.

This month, we're highlighting opportunities that can truly make a difference for a family and help keep a child from entering foster care unnecessarily! Would you consider:
💚 Becoming a Host Family by opening your home to temporarily host children
💚 Becoming a Family Friend to offer day-to-day encouragement and connection

Every small step strengthens a family! To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/3OX3kMx.

What is a volunteer-led movement?💑 Safe Families is a volunteer-led and professionally supported movement. We believe in...
04/22/2025

What is a volunteer-led movement?💑

Safe Families is a volunteer-led and professionally supported movement. We believe in the power of ordinary people coming alongside isolated families to provide hope, belonging, and community.

Volunteering also supports individual well-being, reduces feelings of loneliness, and fosters connections. It helps nonprofits meet rising demand amid limited resources. And at a societal level, it builds civic trust and brings people together – especially at a time when so many Americans feel divided.

Volunteering is more than service; it’s a foundation for a healthier, more connected world. To find out more about opportunities to volunteer, go to https://safe-families.org/involvement/.

Protective factors are essential for preventing child abuse and neglect because they are positive elements that enhance ...
04/17/2025

Protective factors are essential for preventing child abuse and neglect because they are positive elements that enhance family well-being and reduce the likelihood of neglect.

These factors act as buffers, helping families cope with stress and fostering healthier parent-child relationships, ultimately creating a safer environment for children.

Research shows that the presence of protective factors is linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect. Safe Families walks alongside parents to help them navigate and stabilize life stressors, build intentional relationships and networks to provide wrap-around support, provide concrete support through community access to resources, and empower them to develop positive parenting practices that prioritize their children's well-being.

“Awareness” of the problem is just the first step — prevention starts with proactive steps to support families so childr...
04/15/2025

“Awareness” of the problem is just the first step — prevention starts with proactive steps to support families so children can thrive.

Safe Families was founded to provide family-like relationships around isolated parents so there would be no need for child removal or family separation.

Now is the best time to start that conversation and ask local communities to be involved in supporting families. Will you join the Safe Families movement to help keep children safe and families together?

Our children are depending on it.

April isn't just any month—this month is all about PREVENTION. We're on a mission to support and strengthen families and...
04/10/2025

April isn't just any month—this month is all about PREVENTION. We're on a mission to support and strengthen families and keep children safe before abuse or neglect occurs.

We believe investing in prevention provides tools and support so that, ultimately, children do not unnecessarily enter foster care and families can stay together.💛👧👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

Check out this month's blog at https://bit.ly/447m7wn on ways to invest in prevention efforts in your community!

“The community must recognize that protecting children and creating resilient families is everyone’s job.” Every April, our nation observes National…Read More

When isolated and under-resourced parents struggle, children are more vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Though well-inten...
04/08/2025

When isolated and under-resourced parents struggle, children are more vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Though well-intentioned, the government intervenes only after child abuse or neglect has already occurred.

Safe Families for Children goes upstream and employs a prevention strategy by surrounding families with a caring and compassionate community that can help them before a crisis becomes disastrous.

We believe all children deserve a safe family, and our goal is to provide parents with the support they need so children can be safe and thrive!

There were 4.3 million referrals alleging child maltreatment, involving approximately 7.5 million children, made to Chil...
04/03/2025

There were 4.3 million referrals alleging child maltreatment, involving approximately 7.5 million children, made to Child Protective Services (CPS) last year.

It is reported that up to 70% of child welfare cases could be deterred if families had the proper relational support and caring community to surround them.

Help us raise awareness in local communities on prevention efforts! To find out more information, go to https://safe-families.org/ to see how you can make a difference!

April signifies more than just a change in season - it's National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Together, we stand for t...
04/01/2025

April signifies more than just a change in season - it's National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Together, we stand for the safety of every child and the support of every parent. Will you join the movement to help keep children safe and families together?

Please share this message and help us raise awareness. We believe when parents are supported, children can thrive!

One of the blessings of opening our hearts and homes to support isolated families is its impact on our children and how ...
03/25/2025

One of the blessings of opening our hearts and homes to support isolated families is its impact on our children and how they view the world.

Modeling out radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion speaks volumes to our family and those around us!

When everyone works together in the Circle of Support, families are changed!
03/20/2025

When everyone works together in the Circle of Support, families are changed!

Did you know March is Social Worker Appreciation Month? We celebrate the incredible impact of social workers serving on ...
03/13/2025

Did you know March is Social Worker Appreciation Month? We celebrate the incredible impact of social workers serving on the frontlines as compassionate advocates, caregivers, and change agents in local communities.

Social workers stand in the gap—offering support in times of crisis, empowering individuals and families, and championing justice for the most vulnerable.

Join us in honoring the dedication of social workers. You are appreciated more than you know!

FaithAndPractice

Facing life alone as a parent is hard, and when you feel there is no one there to support you, it is a scary place to be...
03/11/2025

Facing life alone as a parent is hard, and when you feel there is no one there to support you, it is a scary place to be.

At Safe Families for Children, we offer support, hope, and belonging to improve the lives of those in our communities. We connect families with caring, compassionate communities that provide a safety net of support so parents can stabilize their crisis situation and get back on their feet.

With over 90 locations nationwide, Safe Families offers relational and resource support to address root problems of social isolation and parental stress that can often lead to child removal and family separation.

At Safe Families, we often describe our work as a connector between the community and the church. But what does that tru...
03/06/2025

At Safe Families, we often describe our work as a connector between the community and the church. But what does that truly mean? What does it look like in practice for local congregations to step into the lives of families facing crisis and make a lasting impact?

Safe Families acts as a translator between the community’s needs and the church’s calling to love and serve. Through structured support, training, and professional guidance, we provide a pathway for churches to engage in crisis ministry with healthy boundaries and sustainable impact.

Continue reading our blog at https://bit.ly/41I9YME.

Today was our Safe Families Global Prayer Event, where hundreds gathered by Zoom to hear how God is working in the Safe ...
03/04/2025

Today was our Safe Families Global Prayer Event, where hundreds gathered by Zoom to hear how God is working in the Safe Families movement worldwide!

It was so encouraging to hear updates from the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, and the Philippines and to pray for each other as we seek to come alongside families and provide hope, belonging, and community through relationships!

Today was our Safe Families Global Prayer Event, where hundreds gathered by Zoom to hear how God is working in the Safe ...
03/04/2025

Today was our Safe Families Global Prayer Event, where hundreds gathered by Zoom to hear how God is working in the Safe Families movement worldwide!

It was so encouraging to hear updates from the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, and the Philippines and to pray for each other as we seek to come alongside families and provide hope, belonging, and community through relationships!

Why should YOU volunteer with Safe Families for Children? One volunteer shared, "this experience has transformed how my ...
02/27/2025

Why should YOU volunteer with Safe Families for Children?

One volunteer shared, "this experience has transformed how my family sees and interacts with our community. We are living by example that we care deeply for those in our city."

You have an incredible opportunity to live out radical hospitality, instill it in your children from a young age, and expand your impact in your local community.

Join us today at https://safe-families.org/involvement/.

Too often, parents in a crisis situation face an impossible choice: struggle alone or risk losing their children to fost...
02/25/2025

Too often, parents in a crisis situation face an impossible choice: struggle alone or risk losing their children to foster care. But what if these families had a Circle of Support offering hope, stability, and belonging before a crisis becomes family separation?

That's exactly what we do. We bring churches and communities together to provide support and meaningful relationships so families can stabilize their situation and get back on their feet. This prevents the need for foster care and keeps families together!

Let's unite to ensure our children are safe and parents supported.💙


Address

2101 N Front Street, Bldg 1, Ste 201
Harrisburg, PA
17110

Telephone

+1 800-238-4269

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Safe Families for Children Ministering God’s Love to Families in Need Safe Families for Children offers volunteers an opportunity to transform their communities by reaching out to care for children whose parents are facing challenges. Right from their own homes, families participate in ministry by offering hospitality, hope, and the love of Christ to families in a crisis that could temporarily jeopardize the parents’ ability to provide safety and stability for their children. As a Host Family, volunteers host children for a short period of time, allowing the child's parent(s) to focus on resolving the issues that led to the crisis. The average length of a child's stay in a Host Family home is about 45 days but is assessed on a case-by-case basis and can vary in length, depending on the needs of child and each family. After being screened and trained by Bethany staff, volunteers join a support network offering families temporary respite care for their children during the earliest signs of a crisis. Safe Families, who are primarily from area churches, open their homes and provide a child with a safe, nurturing place to live while his or her parents work to bring stability back to their family. Because placement with a Host Family is voluntary, parents never have to worry about losing custody of their children while they work out their problems, and they may request that their children return at any time. Safe Families is not foster care or adoption—the goal of the program is the reunification of children with their biological parent(s) in a home that is more stable and healthy. Mothers and fathers going through a temporary crisis can request a volunteer Host Family to host their children (from newborns through age 17) while they work to resolve the issues that led to the situation. Most children placed with a Host Family are 6 years old or younger. Whenever possible, children stay with a family in the same community and remain in contact with their biological parents through phone calls and visits. In addition to screening and training volunteers, Bethany also offers ongoing support to volunteers as they care for children. Bethany also works with the biological parents during the placement to help them identify steps to regain stability and be reunited with their child quickly and safely.