Family Friend - Get Involved - Safe Families New York City

Get Involved

Through the efforts of dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, partnering churches, and community agencies, Safe Families New York City has supported hundreds of families across the boroughs.

Our Model of Support

The Circle of Support Model is unique to Safe Families for Children, bringing together entire communities to surround vulnerable children and isolated families with relational and resource support dedicated to keeping parents supported, children safe, and families together. Our model is designed to give volunteers the opportunity to volunteer in their own community–whether you’re located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx, there is a role for you!

Our Model is:

Prevention-Focused
Community-Driven
Relationship-Centered
Professionally-Supported
Volunteer-Engaged
Evidence-Based
Family-First Approved

Apply To Volunteer

The Family Friend model is only successful when it is embraced by the local community. Families of all kinds are essential to providing support for vulnerable children.

Be a Family Friend

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Family Friends come alongside parents to provide friendship, mentorship and encouragement. They assist parents with:

Emotional Support: Making time to text, call or meet in person so parents have a safe space to share and connect, getting coffee or going to the park.

Advocacy: Accompanying parents to doctor’s appointments, court dates, or parent teacher conferences so they feel confident speaking up for themselves.

Translation: Translating as needed for non-English speaking parents.

Meal delivery: Providing a meal or groceries to a parent who is struggling to cook.

Childcare: Occasional childcare to allow parents to attend to other responsibilities.

Family Coaches mentor parents in crisis, and encourage Host Families and Family Friends. Their support strengthens families, and ensures children experience stability and care.

Be a Family Coach

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The volunteer role of Family Coach is crucial to the Circle of Support. Their two primary areas of support are 1) helping parents identify goals for themselves and their families, and 2) offering mentorship and guidance to parents in meeting their goals. Family Coaches often help parents find:

Stable Housing: filling out new housing applications or applying for housing vouchers/assistance.

Stable Jobs: providing resume help, proofreading cover letters, acting as a reference, or introducing parents to professional connections.

Community Resources: researching and recommending other local programs–childcare, food pantries, diaper banks– to help parents find the holistic support they need to thrive.

Parenting Support: researching or attending local parenting groups or Mighty Village events with parents who are looking to build peer relationships.

Resource Friends share skills, services, or goods with families lacking essentials. By filling these gaps, they prevent crises and help parents stay strong, resilient, and connected during difficult times of need.

Be a Resource Friend

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At times parents need the support of material resources to help them during their time of crisis. Resource Friends are notified of one-off needs in our community, and can help stabilize families through generous donations.

Items such as Uber or food gift cards, diapers and wipes, or household items are common requests for parents who are starting single parenthood, are recently postpartum, or are transitioning from a shelter into permanent housing.

We keep a list of Resource Friends whom we notify when a particular need arises.

Hear From Our Volunteers

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Get answers to questions you may have before contacting us. Visit our FAQs for answers to some common inquiries.

FAQS