When I first came to Safe & Sound, I felt overwhelmed as the sole provider for my family, caring for three children and my wife, who requires extra support. Safe & Sound provided me with the support I needed while my kids participated in fun activities in their playroom. I enrolled in the Integrated Family Services and, with the support of my care coordinator, set goals for my family. Safe & Sound provided parenting classes and helped me focus on individual therapy, giving me the tools to make my family stronger and become an active father. After two years, we were in a much happier place when we finished the program.
However, financial stress made it hard to focus on anything else. As the sole provider for my family, the pressure was on my shoulders to leave the job I had always done in search of something that provided more financial stability. Safe & Sound welcomed me a second time when I sought their help with job searches, resume building, and submitting applications. They gave me the confidence to pursue a training program that could change my career, and during the process, they helped us meet our basic household needs for my family.
“Without Safe & Sound assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to seize this opportunity for a better future.”
I’m thrilled to share that today, I work full-time as a school bus driver and earn enough to support my family! My son graduates high school in the next two years, and I’m excited that the Safe & Sound team is already thinking about how to help him achieve his educational goals. I know that with their support and mine he will go on to achieve great things.
Thanks to your generous support, Safe & Sound has been able to provide vital services to families like mine. In 2023, more than 16,000 children and caregivers were served through Safe & Sound programs and supportive services.
Today, I want to ask you to spread holiday joy by making a contribution to Safe & Sound. Your kindness gives us the assurance that Safe & Sound will be there to lend a helping hand when we are facing life’s biggest challenges, empowering us to dream and work towards a better future.
Safe & Sound has been a reliable place for parenting support, but it also felt safe, caring, and compassionate, which helped strengthen my family during tough times. Every family that walks through the doors has their own struggles, but it’s possible to turn things around. Safe & Sound creates a unique connection with each family and being participant-centered and participant-led allows families to access the services that will best support them. Whether it’s immediate assistance to help meet basic food and household needs, help with parenting skills, a caring voice at the other end of their 24/7 parental stress call-in line, or individuals to share your challenges and hopes with either one-on-one or with a group of other parents, Safe & Sound knows how to help families thrive.
Your gift as a Safe & Sound community member wraps all of this support around every family that comes to Safe & Sound with hope of a better future for themselves and their children. I know this incredible resource for families is possible because of the contributions made by people like you and, for this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, for partnering with Safe & Sound mission to prevent and reduce the impact of childhood abuse, neglect and trauma.
Happy Holidays,
Ramon E. Rivera
Parent & a Client of Safe & Sound