Safe Families Canada

Safe Families Canada (SFC) is a movement fuelled by compassion to keep children safe and families intact. Through Host Families, Family Friends, and Family Coaches, we temporarily host children and provide a network of support to families in crisis while they get back on their feet. We open our hearts, open our arms, and open our homes.

By law and policy, child welfare agencies are mandated by the government to intervene in situations where children have suffered blatant abuse or neglect, leaving thousands of children and their families in difficult situations that do not meet this threshold. With the changing economy, many more families are experiencing financial crisis, unemployment, and homelessness. Others are dealing with substance abuse, illness or incarceration. During such crises, many parents are not capable of providing a safe and caring environment for their children.

Historically, extended family members or neighbours often step in to support parents by taking care of children for short periods of time. However, many urban families are socially isolated and their extended family is non-existent or unavailable, especially for those who are newcomers to Canada. Children of families traumatized by crises become especially at risk for neglect or abuse as their parents struggle to cope with crushing circumstances and emotions.

Parents are able to voluntarily place their child(ren) with SFC and retain custody during the placement. They can come from any background and be referred by a school, hospital, church, pregnancy centre, homeless shelter, child welfare agency, neighbour or may contact SFC themselves when in a time of crisis. SFC volunteers serve without compensation and are motivated by the compassion and grace that they first received from Jesus Christ.

Educational Learning Opportunities 

Educational Learning opportunities are available in some of our chapters. These opportunities include Internships, Co-operative Education, Field Education arrangements and Placements.

For Educational Learning Opportunities, we recruit for roles such as Social/Family Service Workers, Videographers, Administrators, Event Planners, Photographers, Webmasters, and Resource Workers.  We work with Colleges and Universities to provide what is educationally needed for the course requirement.

To learn more about our current opportunities, please go to "Find a Chapter" on our website and contact a chapter near you. They will be able to provide more information concerning the roles they have applied to and other volunteer opportunities.

Find a Chapter