Needs From: United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties

You can play a vital role in Safe Families for Children (Safe Families) by volunteering as a Family Coach to help parents in crisis get back on their feet. 

As a Family Coach, you will:

Support the volunteers caring for a family. This ensures that families get the support and resources they need to provide a safe and nurturing support for children and their parents. Monitor children’s safety. Because safety is a top priority, the Family Coach begins home visits within 48 hours of a child staying with the Host Family—and each week during hosting. Provide a family in need with resources, such as community referrals and assistance in making their appointments. Facilitate the relationship between the Host Family and the Family in need with compassion and empathy.

You will also:

Listen to volunteers and Families in need. The Family Coach provides space for them to express their thoughts and concerns. Manage expectations. For example, volunteers may feel that they must fix problems or situations that are not their responsibility. Show empathy, hope, grace, and compassion. We work hard to err on the side of grace. Problem solve. Family Coaches work with the church and other community resources to assist families requesting support. Reassure. Stressful situations require a calm presence and the ability to give hope to those who may feel hopeless.

We are looking for volunteers who wish to support families in their community! In Douglas County we greatly need Host Families and Family Coaches to keep up with the frequent requests from our community for support!

Family Coaches: Provide support to both the parents we are serving and the volunteers in the circle of support by checking in with all parties through phone calls, emails, or getting together to ensure that parents have the support they need to meet their goals and that volunteers have the support they need to serve the family well. 

Host Families Are trained and approved to support families by providing short-term care for children in their homes. This care is often babysitting during the day or very short-term requests often, for one or two nights. 

Family Friends/Mentors: Provide friendship, resources, and support to parents, children, or other volunteers through getting together, encouragement, transportation, meals, babysitting (not in the volunteer's home), etc.

Resource Friends: Give tangible items or support the movement through gift cards, meals, assistance with Safe Families events, or errands. Resource friends support the circle by helping families served or volunteers ensure that all needs are met. 

Ambassadors: Promote and facilitate volunteer service in their churches or community groups. Help build awareness of our program and help build the volunteer pool throughout our region so that we can constantly increase our capacity to serve and meet the needs of our communities.