Be a Host Family
Host Families will make a lasting impression on a child in need and possible change the trajectory of the family. If you are looking for a truly rewarding experience, consider becoming a host family.
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved with Safe Families Canada. Consider one of the many areas of need where you can use your gifts!
Host Families are part of SFC’s Circle of Support model and see their participation in the Safe Families Canada Circle or Support as a way of living out the compassion of Christ by caring for the hurting. Volunteer Host parents with this mindset are able to bring the healing dynamic of Christian love to children and families in crisis. They are able to love the children placed in their care and to embrace them as a part of their family.
Safe Families Canada recruits, assesses, screens and approves the most competent and effective families to care for the needs of children. Host Families go through a rigorous onboarding process that includes police checks, third party references, and a home study assessment. They receive training and serve without compensation.
Once an application is submitted, a member of the local chapter staff will reach out with the next steps.
The impact that host families have in the life of a family is significant.
Be a Family Friend
A Family Friend provides support for a parent in crisis. Often the families that SFC serves lack social support and Family Friends will step into that role. This support includes on-going support during and after the placement of a child with a Host Family.
Family Friends are part of SFC’s Circle of Support model and work to keep children safe by caring for and supporting their parents. They seek to increase the capacity of families to nurture and protect their children, use the resources and opportunities within the community, and join supportive networks to enable families to watch out for one another.
Family Friends are a key component of the Safe Families Canada Circle of Support. Family Friends are volunteers who have been screened, approved, and thoroughly trained and are able, to the best of their abilities, to make a one-year commitment to the families they work with.
All Safe Families Canada Circle of Support volunteers are supervised by Chapter Staff.
The impact that family friends have in the life of a family is significant.
Be a Family Coach
Family Coaches are skilled volunteers who help families in crisis reach their goals and provide support to Host Families and Family Friends who are aiding Families in Crisis.
A Family Coach is part of SFC’s Circle of Support model. Part of a group of people working together to support a Host Family while they host a child and also may have the opportunity to reach out to the child’s parent to help them get back on their feet.
All Safe Families Canada Circle of Support volunteers are supervised by Chapter Staff.
The impact that family coaches have in the life of a family is significant.
Be a Safe Families Canada Church
The Safe Families outreach is only successful when it is embraced and adopted by the local church. Churches of all sizes are necessary to providing for vulnerable children within our communities.
The Safe Families Canada network of local churches play a vital role both building and sustaining the ministry. outreach is only successful when it is embraced and adopted by the local church. Churches of all sizes are necessary to provide for vulnerable children within our communities.
Manifesting the love and compassion of Christ by empowering, supporting, training and ministering to Host Families, other volunteers, and Placing Families within the Christian community.
Families who have placed their child(ren) with a Host Family are in a crisis situation and need support, even after their children are returned to them. The participating Safe Families Church is encouraged to minister to them and care for their short-term and long-term needs, whether physical, emotional or spiritual.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18-19).
Be a Safe Families PLUS Mentor
Safe Families Canada PLUS (Providing
Lasting Unconditional
Support) Mentors are key partners in helping older youth (ages 14-21). A significant number of youths in the child welfare system will never be placed in a permanent home and will age out with few supports or opportunities. Many of these young adults do not have the relationships or resources necessary to successfully transition to adulthood.
Without the skills needed to navigate adulthood, these young people are at risk for human trafficking, joining gangs, homelessness, credit fraud, substance abuse, and unplanned pregnancy. PLUS Mentors are paired with one of these young adults and provide much needed support and guidance in setting and achieving life goals. PLUS Mentors serve as “anchor families” to youth, providing a safety net to fall back on after leaving the welfare system.
A PLUS Mentor fills an essential role in the Safe Families Canada’s Circle of Support.
PLUS Mentors are thoroughly screened and trained by Safe Families Canada and are expected to commit to at least a year of meeting with their assigned mentee on a consistent basis. All Safe Families Canada Circle of Support Volunteer are supervised by Chapter Staff.
Be a Resource Friend
A lack of basic resources can often be what moves a family into a crisis. Safe Families Canada’s Resource Friends are resource rich individuals who have the ability to share or source services, skills or material goods to support families who are in crisis.
Working alongside other members of a Circle of Support, Resource Friends are called upon to meet urgent needs of a family.
A Resources Friends might provide, or source the following:
- Counselors
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Educators
- Lawyers
- Mechanics
- Material goods such as furniture, clothing, baby supplies etc
- Practical services such as transportation, lawn care, home improvements, etc.
Resource Friends fill an essential role in the Safe Families Canada’s Circle of Support.
They have been screened, approved, thoroughly trained and are able, to the best of their abilities, to make a one-year commitment to the families they work with. All Safe Families Canada Circle of Support Volunteer are supervised by Chapter Staff.
Be a Ministry Lead
Ministry Leads are based in a local church and are involved in recruiting and supporting volunteers, promoting Safe Families Canada within their church community and acting as a liaison with Safe Families Canada staff.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Get answers to questions you may have before contacting us. Visit our FAQs for answers to some common inquiries.