Our Story

Our founder, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Dave Anderson, was running a foster care agency when he discovered the need for parents to have support before getting to the point of state involvement. His “Aha!” moment happened when a mom came to him asking for help and he realized he was set up only to help after something bad happens. From that experience, Dr. Anderson launched Safe Families for Children in 2003 in Chicago, IL, and the mission has blossomed into 97 chapters in 26 states and has expanded globally to 16 counties to keep children safe and families together.

Keeping Families Together

In 2013 and 2017, Safe Families launched in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, respectively, by several Christ-followers who wanted to make a difference in their communities. The two chapters combined into one Southwest Ohio Chapter in 2025.

We desire to walk alongside families before a major crisis hits, with the hope that we can keep families intact, minimize children entering foster care, and reduce abuse and neglect. The Safe Families model supports and strengthens parents while addressing the root causes leading to child welfare involvement, so fewer children enter the foster care system, and fewer families are separated.

We believe that when families are supported with both relationships and resources, children can thrive!

Our Objectives

Family Support & Stabilization

Many isolated parents struggle because of limited informal social supports and an unavailable extended family. The Circle of Support becomes the extended family needed to support both parents and children in stabilizing their families.

Child Welfare Deflection

The Circle of Support is intended as a preventive measure. Our volunteers provide temporary housing for children, giving parents the space they need to work through a crisis, allowing them to parent well, keep their families together, and avoid the foster care system.

Child Abuse Prevention

Providing an overwhelmed and under-resourced parent with a safe, temporary place for their children without threat of losing custody, along with a Circle of Support to help navigate the crisis situation and avert potential abuse/neglect episodes.

Our Core Values

We open our hearts, our hands, and our homes. We welcome strangers into our lives to find community, hope, and belonging. Staff and volunteers are willing to host and serve others, being role models as the hands and feet of Christ.

God’s generosity is evidenced all around us. Generous people are selfless, redemptive, and sacrificial, freely giving of their time, talents, treasure, and words. Giving to others helps us tangibly practice trusting in God rather than our riches or belongings.

Fuelled by mercy, we are moved to see and act to help those in need. Compassion allows us to “see” those in need and motivates us to respond with the love of Christ. Compassion means to “suffer with” and includes a desire to help alleviate that suffering.