As a new school year approaches, the excitement of seeing friends and learning new things can quickly be erased by the stresses too often felt by families living in vulnerable situations. With rising inflation, financial constraints, limited access to resources, and emotional and psychological strain, parents may be unable to afford basic school supplies and support for their children. Your continued generous support helps Safe & Sound ensure that all children can return to school happy and ready to learn, and that families facing hardships receive the necessary support to overcome challenges all year long.
Safe & Sound plays a critical role in helping families by providing a wide range of services, resources, workshops, and classes specifically designed to alleviate the stress that often accompanies summer holidays and back-to-school time.
One of our signature programs, the Therapeutic Children’s Playroom, has experienced a surge in drop-in visits this summer. Our program is a vital resource, offering therapeutic care and early interventions for children and their parents/caregivers. Beyond providing a safe environment for children to participate in educational and enjoyable activities, we also facilitate a food pantry, organize family dinners, and offer emergency support for immediate needs. The other engaging and popular summer activities include movie sessions in the playroom, where children and caregivers enjoy together while indulging in popcorn, candy, and other fun treats. These additional services empower parents to access stabilizing resources and alleviate stress so parents and caregivers can do what they most want to do—focus on their children.
Sometimes even more support is needed. Our Integrated Children & Family Services (ICFS) program is dedicated to assessing and providing targeted interventions for high-needs children. It strengthens their social and emotional competence, ensuring they are ready to thrive in school and in our community. Additionally, we host a special Child Safety Awareness session designed specifically for parents. This session equips them with the necessary language and knowledge to keep their children safe as they return to school. Importantly, this session is conducted in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a wider range of families.
Families need our partnership all year long, so we offer ongoing services to support families throughout the year.
Our 24-hour TALK Line is available around-the-clock to provide immediate assistance and guidance whenever needed, handling more than 8,000 calls annually.
We provide parental drop-in services where parents can take a break and seek advice and support from our knowledgeable staff.
We offer parenting education classes and support groups that strengthen children’s social emotional learning and give parents the tools to foster healthy development.
For children, we provide ongoing and weekly groups that incorporate hands-on activities, adventures, arts and crafts sessions, such as PlayTime Together, yoga, Superheroes and Music Together.
These services and activities aim to create a supportive community where everyone can thrive. You remember the joy of returning to school—or the excitement in your child’s eyes on that first day back. Your generous support helps Safe & Sound create those memories for so many children and families in our community.
Your generous gift directly contributes to our mission of ensuring that our families have access to vital resources that prepare them for back to school and equip them for a strong year ahead. By alleviating the financial burden and reducing parents’ stress about affording these necessities, we can work together to prevent child abuse, neglect and trauma, and help open the door to a great school year ahead.