Brantford, ON

Chapter Director – Christine Schmidt

Christine has been happily married for 25 years and she and her husband have been blessed with two sons. Christine has a passion for ministry and has had the privilege of serving in various roles at Pregnancy Care Centres for over 15 years. She moved to the job of Regional Director for Safe Families Canada for the  Brantford Chapter after serving as a client advocate and Client Services Director at the local Pregnancy Center. Through her time in pregnancy care work she saw the value and importance of a ministry like Safe Families, supporting families in crisis with compassion and love and connecting them to local churches and supports.. She looks forward to seeing how God will use Safe Families in the Brantford community!

Assistant Chapter Director – Yvette Schat

Yvette has always had a love for children and a heart for vulnerable families.  Having worked in the child protection, public school and foster care fields she saw loneliness as a common thread that was woven into the fabric of so many families. Yvette’s experience has given her an understanding of the barriers that many individuals face when attempting to make positive change.  She has also witnessed the hope and encouragement a supportive community can provide in changing a vulnerable family’s narrative.  When Yvette heard about the mission and vision of Safe Families she was excited to be part of this ministry.  “Jesus redefined what family looks like and I believe that Safe Families presents us with this same challenge and calling – to invite others in”.  Yvette has felt honoured to walk alongside many families in hard places and desires to bring hope and healing to God’s children.  She assisted in the launch of the Hamilton Halton Chapter and is excited to be working for the Brantford Chapter.

Office Administrator – Lydia Noordam

Lydia has a heart for service and missions. She sees the need for a caring and compassionate community for families and has the desire to share the love of God with all she meets. Her warm demeanor and active listening skills create a safe space for families to share their challenges and fears. Lydia has worked with children for a number of years in different schools and childcare centers and sees the impact that family crises can have on the children. Her past experiences have shown her God’s sovereign hand in all things and that He governs all. When Lydia heard about Safe Families in 2022, she felt an urge to fill that need of family friend. God led her to apply as the summer intern for 2023 and is excited to continue the work as the Office Administrator for the Brantford Chapter.