SAFE FAMILIES LAUNCHES
LAUDED AS ‘INNOVATIVE, GRASSROOTS, FAITH-APPROACH TO SERVING’ TO HELP FAMILIES IN CRISIS
Safe Families for Children is a group committed to helping families in crisis. A local chapter held a meeting at the Wakulla Community Center, above, on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and drew a large crowd of interested citizens.
By RIDDHI PATEL Reporter
Safe Families for Children North Florida, the local chapter of a non-profit organization that has both national and international chapters, held a well-attended Wakulla Community Launch event at the Wakulla County Community Center on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The North Florida chapter is in the process of expanding their outreach into Wakulla County. The goal of the community launch event was to inform the community about the organization and how individuals and churches can get involved with efforts to support local families experiencing crisis situations. Following a prayer and a few worship songs, Department of Children and Families Circuit 2 Community Development Administrator Terrence Watts was invited to speak. “I would not get up here and promote or encourage anyone to do anything that I didn’t feel strongly about, and I feel strongly about Safe Families,” said Watts who called the organization an “innovative, grassroots, faith-approach to serving.”
Watts shared a story of mother who had moved to the area without a strong support system. He said the situation had turned into a crisis when the mother had a medical emergency during which her children could have been sent to foster care. Watts called Safe Families for Children North Florida’s Cathy Campbell when the case reached his desk, and she was able to host the children. He said Campbell and the mother are still connected to this day. “That relationship of someone just reaching out – ‘I’m here willing to help you’ – it’s a seed,” said Watts. “It’s meeting people where they are in the time of crisis.” He continued by saying that Safe Families is “such an impactful ministry.”
While speaking to Campbell earlier in the evening, she said that Safe Families is faith-based and connects families in need to volunteer host families who have been vetted (including background checks and fingerprinting). According to Campbell, churches are based in family networks, and the organization is asking them to extend that network outward into the community to support families experiencing crises. She noted that families are referred to the organization through various channels including the Department of Children and Families, churches, courts, parents, volunteers, and more. An infographic shared at the event mentioned that “the goal is to prevent children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system,” and that the organization’s network of volunteers is able to step in to “build social support systems around families experiencing: medical emergencies, unemployment, domestic violence, homelessness, alcohol/drug rehabilitation, [and] many other concerns.”
Potential volunteers are able to serve in a variety of capacities including host families, family coaches, family friends, resource friends, and ministry leads. During the event, a video about one family who was experiencing a crisis and the network of Safe Families’ volunteers and staff who built relationships with and helped to create a support system for that family was played to show an example of the impact that the organization chapter has had within the region.
Following the video, Tammy Pulsifer, who started as a volunteer and is now on the Safe Families staff, said, “Our goal is to fill gaps with people that just really need someone to come alongside them – whether that gap is a skill that you have, a resource that you have, or just having an understanding.” Pulsifer added, “They don’t need perfect; they just need a friend – so come alongside us.” Pulsifer noted that even if individuals do not belong to a church community, Safe Families still welcomes them to serve with the organization.
To the audience, Pastor Mike Montague from Authentic Life Church said, “If we show up, we now have a beautiful opportunity to pour back into a family that might be less privileged than you and I.”
Executive Director of Wakulla Pregnancy Center and member of Authentic Life Church Pam Pilkinton said that her church found out about Safe Families while looking for outreach opportunities, and that they found the organization to be a right fit. Pilkinton introduced all the speakers and performers during the event. Individuals were able to complete the fingerprinting process and sign up to volunteer on-site at the community launch.
More information about Safe Families for Children North Florida and how individuals and churches can get involved can be found by calling (850) 508-3892, emailing Tallahassee@safefamilies.net, or visiting safe-families.org.