Diane Palma - Why Safe Families for Children?

Follow the example of Diane Palma.

How The Ball Family Children Got Them Involved With Safe Families for Children Central Indiana.

Take 60 Seconds To Hear The Kelli Ball Amazing Story

Krista Davis - Director Safe Families for Children Central Indiana

3rd Annual Fund Raising Event

An Inspiring Evening of Fun, Food & Fellowship You are cordially invited to Safe Families for Children Indianapolis 3rd Annual Benefit Friday, September 16, 2011 6:30pm The Mansion at Oak Hill 5801 East 116th Street Carmel, IN 46033 Music by The Blue Dorian Jazz Combo Guest Speaker Josh Bleill, Indianapolis Colts CommunitySpokesperson Business Casual Hors d'oeuvres 6:30pm Dinner 7:30 pm Single Dinner $60 Couple $110 Half Table (5) $250 Table of 10 $500 Register Online at http://safe-families.iministries.org/EventRegister.aspx?site_id=10114&event_id=251285 or Mail Check to Safe Families for Children Attn: Michelle Moscato - Event Co-chair 12714 Stanwich Place Carmel, IN 46033 Questions- Call Michelle at 317-574-1541 Email: safefamiliesindy@gmail.com Please RSVP by August 15, 2011

Two Soccer Moms - What Did They Start?

"This is the Indianapolis Police Department. We have an 8 year old boy who is homeless and we understand you might have a safe place for him." "Yes" was the answer. Little Bobby was taken into a safe environment, given food, friendship and unconditional love."

595 children later, (as of 7/15/2011) the two soccer moms who were at the start of this movement are still in the thick of things. Things being the lives of families that have little or no safety net to help them through their crises.

Krista Davis and Diane Palma are the soccer moms.

Both have families and other interests that could keep them occupied, entertained and otherwise fully consumed. Being busy or entertained is not what fires them up.

They look beyond what you and I might consider the important things of life and find fulfillment by being obedient to the call of God. They are the hands and feet of Jesus to the least of these.

One and 1/2 other full time professionals round out the professional staff of Safe Families for Children Central Indiana (SFFC). They lead a volunteer team of over 150 families that volunteer to open their homes to the children that come to SFFC. These volunteer host families are motivated by compassion for children. They assume 100% of all expenses. They receive a lot of support from the SFFC staff, but no financial support.

9,000 volunteer days is a rough estimate of the value of the SFFC volunteer team. What if these children had become part of the Department of Child Services program? We estimate a tax payer expense savings of $200,000 - $900,000.

The two soccer moms have started a movement in Central Indiana that is changing lives in ways that are beyond our ability to measure. "God knows how lives are being changed", is their response to the measurement question. If you ask the volunteer families, they will tell you that they have seen God at work in their lives.

Stay tuned. The two soccer moms have more to tell us.

Chuck Gross

President - Advisory Board

Doing Justice: As the Church, Through Our Vocations, for the Common Good

Amy Sherman, author of Sharing God's Heart for the Poor, will be speaking at Grace Community Church Noblesville 9:00 - noon, Saturday 8/6. This free Justice Seminar is part of the ongoing ministry of Grace to educate us on the Biblical perspective of poverty, brokenness and how we should respond. A post seminar breakout session & lunch is available for $5. Register through www.gracecc.org.

Knowledge of poverty strengthens our ability to be effective in our service to the least of these.

"Why I Am Leading The SFFC Central Indiana Prayer Team?"

Our God is a powerful God who not only answers our prayers, but hears the cry of our hearts and keeps watch over all children. When we engage in prayer on behalf of SFFC, God not only hears our prayers, but we are changed. As we come before God in prayer, God shows up...in the silence, through the Spirit, in that still, small voice....and our hearts are moved. We learn something about God, about ourselves, and our neighbors. And hopefully, we are moved to action. It is my privilege to coordinate the prayer team for SFFC so that my brothers and sisters in Christ may not only be aware of the great needs in our community and to see how God is moving, but for each one of us to be transformed as we continually come before God in prayer.

Melissa

Host Home Families Feedback On Hosting Experience

6/24/2011

In August 2010 we began to survey host homes when their guest child was returned to the biological parents. Our goal is to evaluate the spiritual impact on the host home, the safe family for the child. Below is a summary of responses to the questions. Most of the questions are open ended, not lending itself to yes or no responses. Of the questions that have yes or no type answers, the input is outlined below.

#1

One of the core values of Safe Families for Children is that volunteers are primarily recruited from faith institutions and their faith is a primary force driving their service. Was your faith a primary force in your decision to be a host family?

69 of 69 respondents said: Yes

#2

As a Safe Families for Children host home, did you see God at work?

62 of 67 respondents said: Yes

5 were Uncertain

#3

As a Safe Family for Children host home, how do you think you helped the biological family or your guest child?

This open-ended question produced results that indicate:

Child: 24

Mom: 14

Both: 28

#4

Overall, how did your latest Safe Family hosting experience compare with your expectations?

Exceeded: 17

Met: 47

Did Not: 4

#5

If your hosting experience involved your own children, how did they respond to having a Safe Families for Children guest?

This open-ended question produced results that indicate:

Positive: 37

Negative: 1

#6

Is there an opportunity to establish some kind of a mentoring relationship with the biological parent(s)? Share a few words to further expand on your yes or no response.

Yes: 2

No: 9

Uncertain: 13

Open-ended responses indicated that some host families were willing to mentor there are difficulties in establishing the mentoring relationship. What is clear is that there have been few mentoring relationships established. We need to consider more discussion, fact finding and identification of other related issues before raising the expectation of an ongoing mentoring relationship.

#7

Is there anything within our control that could make your hosting experience more effective?

This open-ended question produced results that indicate:

No Changes Suggested: No changes recommended

Changes Suggested: 1 - drug screens & background checks before placement.

Overall, input is positive and constructive.

#8

How many times have you been a host family?

1. 18

2. 7

3. 6

4. 7

5. 6

5+. 7

#9

Would you recommend Safe Families for Children as a way for others to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving the least of these?

Yes: 63

No: 0

Uncertain: 1

#10

If you would like to discuss your experience with one of the Safe Families for Children team, give us your contact information in the space below. Also, give us an idea of what you would like to discuss.

One 0f 64 responders indicated a need to discuss his or her experience.

#11

If part or all of your experience could be used to tell others about the Safe Families for Children movement, do we have your permission to do so? We always change names to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the persons involved.

Yes: 63

No: 1

Chuck Gross

7/4/2011

6/24/2011 Results

Want to experience positive life change? Get involved by going to www.safe-familes.org

6/25/11 @ 9:32 AM

“I….I…I…need help…with….my….kids”. “Can…you…take…them?” The dots represent pauses and gasps followed by words being squeezed out from behind clenched teeth. As I leaned into the phone, it was a struggle to hear her clearly. Something was not right.

“Mamm, are you OK?”

“Yes…” “I am in labor”

The mood instantly shifted from information gathering to “Houston, we have a problem.”

This 68 yr. old guy was close to panic. The last time I was close to this situation was with the birth of our last child.

This mom had 2 children that needed a safe home while she in the hospital was having her baby.

Within hours, the Safe Families for Children Central Indiana staff had the 3 placed in volunteer host homes and sibling #4 was born.

Hospitalization is the third greatest reason for children coming to Safe Families for Children Central Indiana.

Three days later, the children are reunited with mom and their new brother.

Tell a friend about SFFC and invite them to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Safe-Families-for-ChildrenIndianapolis/44701716109) and blog (http://safefamiliesofindy.blogspot.com/).

Chuck Gross - Advisory Board