Who we are
History – Our Story
In 2008, two foster parents in Forsyth County were deeply affected by a tough situation while fostering a child, which left them feeling lost, burnt out, unsupported, and unsure if they should continue to foster or give up. They felt they were traveling this journey called “fostering” alone. So they decided to start a support group for foster and adoptive families. This group met at the local public library, where they supported and encouraged one another at their monthly meetings. The community quickly started to rally around this group. Volunteers began providing childcare for their support group meetings. A monthly Parents’ Night Out was established, and for the first time, the foster children could interact and fellowship with other children in similar situations. The other benefit was that it provided a break for the foster parents. After just a few meetings (and realizing there was a true need in the community), the original support group founders and foster parents started SAFFT.
It was in early 2009 that SAFFT launched parenting support programs in Forsyth County. In order to support these efforts, SAFFT opened its first Visitation Center in Cumming, Ga., in June 2010. The purpose behind this center was to provide families
with a neutral location for supervised visitations to take place, somewhere that was safe, comfortable, reassuring to the child(ren), accessible, and homelike. Plus, a SAFFT representative could monitor contact between the child(ren) and parent(s) in order to protect the rights and the safety of all those involved. The Visitation Center (now called the Family Life Center) also offers an individualized, needs-based parenting curriculum to enhance a caretaker’s ability to provide a nurturing and structured home environment in accordance with the Juvenile Court and Department of Family & Children Services requirements. In 2012, in partnership with the CJCC and other domestic violence agencies, SAFFT was awarded a grant from the Office for Violence Against Women to open the first visitation program in North Georgia to serve victims of domestic violence. By 2013, SAFFT had outgrown their location and moved into a 10,000-square-foot facility on Castleberry Road. The new center – named the Family Life Center – is able to serve 3-4 times the number of families it could before.
Today, SAFFT operates a second location and Family Life Center in Hall County. In recent years, the need for this kind of support in the community has greatly increased, and SAFFT’s success and ability to serve these families in crisis has widened into the following surrounding counties (other than Forsyth and Hall): Banks, Barrow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fulton, Gwinnett, Habersham, Jackson, Lumpkin, and White. With contributions and donations from individuals, families, organizations, churches, and companies, SAFFT has continued to grow and help more and more families in need. We are thankful to be a part of such a giving community.
Mission
Supporting Adoption & Foster Families Together, Inc. (SAFFT) is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to protect children, rebuild families, and empower caregivers.
We serve children and families in Banks, Barrow, Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, and White counties.
Vision
Vision
North Georgia children and families at risk of or impacted by abuse or neglect are safe, thriving, and have achieved long-term stability.
Core Values
Core Values
● Respect ● Compassion
● Accountability ● Integrity
● Transparency ● Collaboration
● Best-In-Class
Protecting Children
Our highest priority is to protect children. That is why we offer numerous programs and services that offer support and healing, with the hope that we can break the generational cycle of abuse and neglect. To find out more about what is offered to families in need, search under ‘programs’ in the main menu bar.
Rebuilding Families
Our journey begins when a family walks through our doors for the first time. Since every family’s situation and circumstances are unique, we do not take a cookie cutter approach. Instead, we aim to help families uncover the root causes of their pain and heal, with the ultimate goal being healthier, stronger families. We understand that children in foster care are not looking for a new family, but for their own family to be healthier and more stable. We offer numerous services and programs that support and strengthen families. To find out more, search under ‘programs’ in the main menu bar.
Empowering Caregivers
It takes someone truly special to be a caregiver, whether it is a foster, adoptive, or relative caregiver. We believe that families deserve to have the necessary tools to make this transition easier. We offer numerous options for caregivers on this journey, so they are not alone.To find out more about our It Takes a Village Program, search under ‘programs’ in the main menu bar.
By July 2021, SAFFT will refine our policies and
procedures to enable us to provide operations and
infrastructure that are safe and secure, compliant, and
promotes the recruitment and retention of high
performing personnel.
By Dec 2022, SAFFT will be fiscally sound as measured by
adequate reserves, 70% private and 30% grant funding
which gives us the ability to continue to fund the programs
and operations that support our mission.
By Dec 2022, SAFFT will evaluate, implement, expand,
and measure effective and efficient programs and
services to support our mission.
By Dec 2022, SAFFT will increase our value as measured by
community engagement through an impactful volunteer
program, marketing campaign, and advocacy agenda.
Become a Volunteer
We would love to cater an opportunity specific to your desires, talents, and skills!