Safe Families for Children - Safe Families New York City

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Surrounding families with a caring, compassionate community!

Safe Families NYC proudly supports families across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, & The Bronx.

At Safe Families NYC, our priority is that both volunteers and families feel heard and well-resourced! Whether you want to learn more about our mission, request support, or become a volunteer or partner church, we are here to serve you and our community!

Interested in learning more? Submit a referral form, call/text 646-907-3039, or email nycreferrals@safefamilies.net with any questions.

To learn about our volunteer approval process:

Olivia Voegtle (nyc@safefamilies.net) 646-907-3039

Check out upcoming Mighty Village events on our Calendar of Events!

Follow our Parent Instagram for updates on events, encouraging content, and links to helpful community resources posted every Wednesday afternoon!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How soon can I get help?

You will be contacted within 48 business hours after submitting your referral form. After intake is completed, getting matched with a Circle of Support can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks.

What kind of help should I expect?

Safe Families helps parents through a Circle of Support, which consists of 1 parent being matched with 3 individuals-a Family Friend, a Family Coach, and a Family Support Staff Member. The Family Friend will provide weekly emotional support for the parent, giving them a safe space to talk, process, and get advice.

The Family Coach will help parents set goals they would like to achieve during their 6 month match. They can connect you to helpful community agencies, assist you in filling out applications, provide career coaching or resume support, and more! The Family Support Staff Member will supervise the match and make sure all volunteers and parents feel supported and safe.

How often will I connect with my Circle of Support?

Family Friends will reach out to the Parent at least once a week, sometimes more. We encourage Family Friends and Parents to also meet in person once a month. Family Coaches will be in touch more infrequently, about twice a month. A staff member will supervise every Circle of Support match and is available to connect with volunteers and parents at any time.

What does a Family Friend do?

The Family Friend role is highly customizable. Family Friends provide basic emotional support through consistent check-ins via phone call, text, and in-person meet ups. Family Friends can also support parents by cooking meals together, running errands, meeting up for coffee or going for walks in the park. We encourage our volunteers to be creative, find common ground with their matched parent, and explore shared interests. Past Family Friends have thrown parents baby showers, helped thrift home decor for a new apartment, driven moving vans, attended parenting groups, etc. Friendships between Family Friends and Parents are as unique as any other friendship!

What is the commitment time for volunteers?

Volunteers commit to being matched with a parent for 6 months at a time. The weekly time commitment is about 1-2 hours a week. Your weekly commitment will be scheduled around your and the matched parent’s joint availability.

How long does it take to get approved?

Because we support parents and children, our approval process includes a 2-Step background check which takes about 3-6 weeks to clear. We encourage volunteers to complete the other aspects of the volunteer training during those 3-6 weeks so they can begin volunteering as soon as possible.