Safe Families for Children, a program of Bethany Christian Services, is seeking compassionate families to open their homes to children whose parents are experiencing a temporary crisis. By becoming a Host Family, you provide a safe, loving environment while parents work toward stability and address challenges such as illness, homelessness, job loss, hospitalization, or other emergencies.
Hosting is temporary, voluntary, and focused on keeping families together. Hostings can last anywhere from a few nights to three months, depending on the family's needs and circumstances. Parents maintain custody of their children throughout the hosting period, while Safe Families staff and volunteers provide ongoing support to both the child and the parent.
As a Host Family, you will:
- Welcome a child into your home for a short-term stay.
- Provide a safe, nurturing, and stable environment.
- Partner with Safe Families staff and the child's parent throughout the hosting.
- Help preserve families and prevent unnecessary foster care placements.
- Demonstrate compassion, hospitality, and the love of Christ through practical care.
Volunteer Requirements
To ensure the safety and well-being of every child, all Host Families must complete the following approval process:
- Criminal background checks for all adult household members
- Fingerprinting for all adult household members
- Personal interview
- Reference checks
- Home inspection/home visit
- Physician health clearance
- Completion of virtual training
- Current CPR certification
- Alignment with the Bethany Christian Services Statement of Faith
No prior parenting or foster care experience is required. Safe Families provides training, guidance, and ongoing support throughout your volunteer journey.
If you have room in your home and heart to care for a child during a family's time of need, we invite you to join our community of Host Families and make a lasting difference in the lives of children and parents in our community.
