Dear Friends & Supporters,

For the first time in many months, I saw Sonia laugh — a deep and contagious belly laugh.

Sonia came to Safe & Sound a few months ago looking for help. She was having difficulty with being new to the area and in the middle of a complicated divorce. And although relieved to be leaving a marriage marked by conflict and violence, it was hard parenting two children under eight on her own — especially because Johny, her youngest, has a disability. Sonia was holding a lot: caring for two children, holding down a part-time job, and what seemed like constant traveling to and from medical appointments.

It’s so hard to take a break when your kids need you.

Melina, one of Safe & Sound’s Clinical Care Coordinators, listened to Sonia’s story. Together they worked on a support plan that coordinated services including individual counseling, engaging in our Single Parents Network support group, and playtime for her children in our Therapeutic Children’s Playroom. Melina also made sure Sonia knew about our Tuesday Night Family Dinners and regular food donations.

Throughout all this, to build Sonia’s own resilience, Melina encouraged her to practice self-care, which she knew everyone needs to help cope with the ups and downs of parenting — and life. Doing all she needed to do to support herself and her two children was hard. But with Melina’s help, Sonia was discovering ways to summon her strength to accomplish this every day.

That day, waiting with other parents for fresh vegetables and fruit, Sonia wasn’t rushing to a doctor’s appointment, her children were being cared for, and for the moment, nothing was being asked of her. Sonia finally allowed herself to relax; to be herself and in the present moment.

It may have been a few brief moments in between appointments, but this was a big step in the journey towards healing.                    

Melina and members of the Safe & Sound team help families like Sonia’s take full advantage of Safe & Sound’s programs and services to ensure that they receive the best possible solutions for their needs: from housing support, to helping parents advocate for individual education plans, and counseling to overcome past trauma. With your support, we help parents build protective factors, including resilience and parenting skills, that lets their children thrive.

Over the years we have met thousands of families from all over San Francisco and the Bay Area, each with their individual stories, unique obstacles, and extraordinary strengths. Families come to our cozy parent drop-in space and find a place to exhale and just sit for a moment; a place where friendships form and communities build. For every family, we strive to provide the best support possible so that every parent and caregiver can raise healthy and happy children. And it’s working: over 90 percent of the families who have engaged in our intensive services for over a year show improved family well-being.

Every parent and caregiver wants the brightest possible future for their child, and we work every day at Safe & Sound to help them get there. As we look back over the past forty-eight years of our work, we owe deep thanks and gratitude to the founders of the Child Abuse Prevention Council and their understanding that parenting is tough and that everyone needs support to protect kids.

Your contribution to Safe & Sound will help us provide parents like Sonia with the programs that help her be the best parent she can be for her children. With your help, we are getting closer to a future where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are sound.

Thank you for joining us in this effort.

Grateful,

 

 

Beatrize (Betty) Perez, ASW
Senior Program Manager, Care Coordination

P.S. Please consider making a gift today to help Safe & Sound create a future for families to build friendships and strengthen their resilience.