When your family is in a crisis, we make our families available. We’re here to make sure you’re not alone when you know you can’t do it by yourself.

Welcome to Safe Families For Children (SFFC) East Central Chapter

We are a local chapter of a national movement made up of thousands of volunteer families who have opened their homes to care for children whose families are experiencing a personal crisis. SFFC East Central, IL Chapter was established in 2010 to strengthen families and prevent children from experiencing abuse, neglect, and entering the foster care system.

We desire to empower the faith community to step into relationship with families who are going through a difficult time to build up our community while keeping children safe and families together.

In order to accomplish this, Safe Families for Antelope Valley recruits, vets, trains, and supports local volunteers who demonstrate Radical Hospitality, Disruptive Genersoity, and Intentional Compassion by temporarily hosting children, befriending parents, and connecting them to positive relationships and other resources. Ultimately, this allows families in crisis the time, space, and tools they need to address the challenges they’re facing.

You can STOP the flow of children into government custody by intervening BEFORE crisis escalates to neglect or abuse.

Who We Serve

We serve East Central, IL region. When crisis strikes, many of us rely on family and friends for support and encouragement. For some parents, this is not an option. Crisis can look like homelessness, unemployment, hospitalization, domestic violence, incarceration, substance abuse treatment, and many other concerns. Our trained volunteers offer support, which often involve providing a loving, temporary home for children while parents work on reaching stability.

Typically, parents partner with SFFC to host their children in the safety of the host home, while working with other members of the COS to handle their crisis situation. Our main objectives are family support and stabilization, preventing abuse and neglect, and deflecting children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system. If you are a referring agency or have questions about intake, please view our Referral Guidelines here.