Safe Families

Safe Families for Children-Chicago began in 2002 in the wake of a particularly deadly summer for children. Dr. Dave Anderson, Executive Director of the LYDIA Home Association (a Christian social service agency in Chicago) reacted to the crisis by writing to Mayor Richard M. Daley. Dr. Anderson made a radical proposition in his letter: What if compassionate Christians opened up their home to children from families in crisis before the children were taken into state custody? The Mayor and one of his trusted deputies responded enthusiastically and helped find seed money to implement this bold undertaking.

By February 2003, Safe Families for Children-Chicago began with a handful of volunteers. This movement has now grown to close to 400 volunteer families in the Chicago area alone with a placement rate of over 30 a month. Hundreds of people have been helped and changed - not only those served by the ministry, but those serving as volunteers as well.

Our goal here at Sunshine is to build a "Safe Families Hub" (a network of churches and social service agencies) on the greater south side of Chicago. Therefore, we have been meeting with pastors/churches, social service agencies, public schools, etc. The vision is to not only mobilize "host families" but also referring and support agencies who will connect us with families who are going through a crisis. Our prayer is that God will raise up a "village" within our community to come alongside families in need.

How can you be involved?
(1)Do you know of a social service agency (hospitals, clinics, after school programs, etc.) located on the south side that we could contact? We are looking both for referral partners (agencies who will refer us families) and for "family resources." Organizations who serve as family resources would be those who provide their services at a discounted price.

(2)Could you connect us with your pastor/elder board to make a Safe Families presentation?

(3)Within the body of Christ we are looking to recruit and mobilize
Host Families - families who practice biblical hospitality by opening their homes to children in need
Family Friends - Individuals who are able to help out with diapers, clothes, doctors visits and other expenses

We greatly appreciate your prayers and assistance as we begin this journey! We are excited about the potential of what God could do in and through His people in the city! For more information contact Erica Avery at eavery@sunshinegospel.org

A New Team Member...Meet Erica Avery

During the month of March, we welcomed a new "team member" to Sunshine to serve as our Safe Families Hub Manager (blog entry forthcoming to further explain Safe Families). Erica Avery was born on Chicago’s south side to two loving parents, Carleton and Desney Avery. From an early age she felt God calling her to a life of service. September 2007 to May 2009 Erica responded to that call by leaving all she knew to be a part of Masters Commission USA, a ministry training program where she learned the importance of discipleship, social justice, race relations, and most importantly the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After Erica Graduated from Masters Commission USA she heard Gods call to bring what she learned back to the inner city of Chicago. During the summer of 2009 Erica joined the Chicago Peace Campaign, a pro peace movement started by Chris Butler, Bishop Edward Peecher and several others that has markedly changed the atmosphere where it has been implemented. Erica soon after began working as the Volunteer Coordinator for a democratic candidate who ran for state representative in the 10th district of Chicago’s North and West side. As the campaign came to a close, Erica began to pray to God for her next assignment. A few weeks later the door opened for Erica to work for Sunshine, specifically focusing on the Safe Families program. Safe Families is a ministry that helps parents who are experiencing a temporary crisis arrange for their children to stay with a Christian family while they address the issues that led to their situation. Erica is currently focused on building up the Safe Families Network in the greater south side of Chicago. We are excited to have Erica serving with us! She is a great asset to our team!

Stay tuned for the Safe Families blog update!...