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STORIES

Strengthening Families, Transforming Systems

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Mission: Safe & Sound prevents and reduces the impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma. We do this by strengthening families, building communities, and advancing healing, equity, and justice.

The Power of Lived Expertise in Systems Change

At Safe & Sound, we believe that meaningful change begins by listening to those who have been impacted by adversity. We have seen lived expertise develop when individuals transform their experiences into skills and wisdom that change systems for the better. By integrating qualitative (personal stories) and quantitative (data-driven) approaches, Safe & Sound ensures that our programs are compassionate and effective. Through this approach, we work towards a more just and supportive system for children and families—one that prevents and reduces the impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma. Our Data and Evaluation team works directly with clients to gather meaningful insights rooted in lived experience, ensuring this knowledge informs and strengthens our work.
This commitment to lived expertise was demonstrated at the December Bay Area California Family Resource Association (CFRA) Town Hall Meeting, co-hosted by the San Francisco Family Services Alliance (FSA) and Safe & Sound. The event brought together parent leaders, Family Resource Centers, family support organizations, and policymakers to discuss key advocacy priorities. Parents’ voices were central, as eleven participants—including five Spanish-speaking parents—shared their experiences and recommendations on topics like housing coordination, cyberbullying prevention, emergency child care, and more.
By embracing lived expertise as a cornerstone of system change, Safe & Sound and our partners are leading the way in creating solutions that center family voice, build community trust, and help children and parents thrive together.

The Center for Youth Wellness at Safe & Sound

In 2021, the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW) joined Safe & Sound, expanding its efforts to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress through evidence-based care, advocacy, and education. Founded by California's first Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, CYW has led national efforts to integrate ACEs screening into pediatric care. Safe & Sound's CYW program advances this work by providing trauma-informed training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy to support early intervention and systemic change. Through initiatives like the federally funded TASIE (Trauma-Informed ACEs Screening & Intervention Evaluation) Project, CYW has enhanced ACEs screening across 16 states, training healthcare providers and improving outcomes for thousands of children. The work has been spotlighted in a recently published report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Human Resources and Services Administration, which has been presented to the United States Congress.
Looking ahead, CYW is committed to expanding ACEs screening accessibility, strengthening provider training, and advocating for policies that embed trauma-informed care into healthcare systems. In partnership with organizations like ACE Action Network and the UCLA-UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network, CYW is shaping a future where all children and families receive the support they need to thrive.
The Center for Youth Wellness Impact #
0
Pediatric practices recruited to integrate ACEs screening and Trauma Informed services into primary care practices
0
Providers reached at those practices
0
Clients/patients served through TASIE (Trauma-Informed ACEs Screening & Intervention Evaluation) Project
0
Presentations or publications advocating for Trauma Informed Systems change to transform the child welfare system
Providers increased their knowledge, comfort, and confidence with ACEs screening
Percent of providers selecting Very or Extremely knowledgeable, Comfortable or Very comfortable, Confident or Very confident

Protective Factors: Building Strength and Resilience

Every individual and family holds innate strengths that, when nurtured, lead to safer and more resilient communities. Since 2013, Safe & Sound has embraced the Protective Factors framework—developed by the Center for Social Policy—to prevent child abuse and neglect by reinforcing these strengths. Protective Factors are qualities within individuals, families, and communities that buffer against risks and promote healthy outcomes. The five core Protective Factors include: Parental/Caregiver Resilience, Social Connections, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, Concrete Support in Times of Need, and Social and Emotional Competence of Children. When these factors are present, families are better able to weather life’s storms—and come through stronger.

Domains of Wellness: Healing Through Daily Practice

While Protective Factors strengthen the family system and the environment around it, the Domains of Wellness focus on healing the internal effects of toxic stress—a powerful but often overlooked force that disrupts physical, emotional, and neurological well-being. These seven evidence-based practices—Supportive Relationships, Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise, Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Time in Nature—are scientifically proven to reduce stress hormones, enhance brain plasticity, and improve long-term health outcomes.
Seven domains of wellness
balanced nutrition
moving your body
practicing mindfulness
sleeping well
spending time in nature
supporting mental health
supportive relationships
Safe & Sound integrates these domains into our daily work with families, reinforcing resilience from the inside out. Together with the Protective Factors, they form the foundation of our trauma-informed approach to care. This integrated model is brought to life in The Resilience Tree—a visual representation of how these two frameworks work in harmony. Just as strong roots and branches support a thriving tree, the Protective Factors (long used by Safe & Sound) and Domains of Wellness (developed and used by the Center of Youth Wellness) together nurture both individual and family well-being. By strengthening family systems and buffering the impacts of toxic stress, this model helps children and caregivers grow, heal, and flourish.

Stories of Resilience and Transformation

Every family deserves support before a crisis occurs. At Safe & Sound, we focus on preventing child abuse and neglect—helping children grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by love.
We do this by working directly with families through our integrated services, strengthening our local community through partnerships and neighborhood-based programs, and advocating for systemic change across California through research and policy efforts.
Each year, we support tens of thousands of families—many of whom might otherwise face crisis or long-term trauma. Our work ensures that children are protected and nurtured, growing up in safe and stable environments where they can truly thrive.
Impact #
In 2024, Safe & Sound served 13,325 children and caregivers through our programs and supportive services. Yet, in San Francisco alone, 4,204 children were reported for suspected abuse or neglect. These numbers are a powerful reminder that while we are making meaningful progress, there is still much work to be done.
Often a lack of resources is misinterpreted as neglect, and reports are unnecessarily made when community supports and services—like those provided by Safe & Sound—could prevent the trauma and harm experienced by children and families when a report is made.
390
children had confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect. This represents just 9.3% of the total reports
$257,000,000
The estimated financial impact on the City and County of San Francisco for these verified child survivors in 2024
Behind each number is a child, a family, a future. These aren’t just statistics—they are stories of disrupted lives, derailed potential, and families pushed to the edge. With the right support, families can overcome even the most painful challenges, heal, grow stronger, and thrive together.

Our Vision for Change

Safe & Sound is working to prevent abuse and neglect and support families before a crisis occurs:
Launching the Community Pathway Initiative to:
  • Engage families in co-creating their own support plans
  • Coordinate services and deliver evidence-based interventions that leads to stronger, more resilient families and communities
Advocating for policy and systems change to prioritize early, community-based support
Building a stronger safety net that reduces child 
welfare involvement
By transforming how family support is delivered, we aim to reduce confirmed cases—and ensure every child grows up safe, healthy, and supported.
Here are the stories of resilience and transformation

Reunited and Rebuilding: A Mother’s Strength

Safe & Sound sees family strengths when systems see red flags.

The parents of a six-year-old faced an unimaginable challenge when Child Protective Services (CPS) removed their son from their care due to a misunderstanding. The child, who has a speech delay, sustained a minor injury after a fall. An inability to fully express what had happened, triggered the school’s report to CPS. What should have been an opportunity for support turned into a painful separation, and the child remained in foster care for five months.
The family learned of Safe & Sound through a school workshop. When they reached out for help, our Care Coordination team stepped in—advocating for the family, helping CPS understand their cultural background, and guiding them through parenting classes, child development, legal systems, and housing resources.
The removal of their child had far-reaching consequences for the parents beyond emotional distress. Because their son was no longer in their care, the family lost their place on a shelter waitlist, leaving them homeless. This, in turn, became another barrier—CPS required stable housing for reunification, even though the family's homelessness was a direct result of the removal. Safe & Sound covered temporary hotel stays and partnered with another organization to find them long-term housing—paving the way for their son's reunification with his parents and return home.
After months of uncertainty and heartache, the family could finally be together again. Since then, they've been working hard to rebuild. The mother is pursuing Early Childhood Education classes and has become a powerful voice for other parents navigating homelessness. The father has found stable work, and the family is preparing to move into permanent housing.
"I didn't think anyone would fight for us the way Safe & Sound did. They helped me find my voice, my strength—and they brought our family back together."
Mom
Community Education Impact #
Often a lack of resources is misinterpreted as neglect, and reports are unnecessarily made when community supports and services—like those provided by Safe & Sound—could prevent the trauma and harm experienced by children and families when a report is made.
0
Students educated in safety awareness.
0
Parents and caregivers trained in child safety awareness and mandated reporter training

Helping Families Heal & Grow: The Impact of Kids' Turn

Safe & Sound helps families navigate separation to find connection.

Parental separation can be one of the most challenging experiences for children, leading to emotional distress and increased risk of trauma. Safe & Sound's Kids' Turn program is a set of structured workshops that provide children with emotional support, and parents with the skills to co-parent effectively. We put the children in the center of healing, not in the middle of conflict.

Sarah*, a devoted mother of two, faced an intense custody battle when her ex-partner re-entered her life. For the safety of the children, the court mandated both of them to attend Kids' Turn, it was through that workshop she learned how to prioritize her children's well-being over conflicts, gaining valuable skills to break negative cycles. "My relationship with their dad doesn't have to define their experience," Sarah shared. "Kids' Turn helped me focus on what really matters—keeping my children safe and happy." Through the program, Sarah developed positive parenting techniques that broke cycles of conflict and stress, ensuring a healthier future for her children.
In 2024, Kids' Turn helped over 98 parents and children to build healthier, more cooperative co-parenting relationships, ensuring children have the stability they need to thrive
"I wish we had Kids' Turn when I was a child. When parents get angry and ask, 'who do you want to be with?' We wish for both. The stories are hard, but after the workshop, children feel better and more confident. Kids still need both parents, and this program helps put children in the center of healing instead of in the middle of conflicts" 



" Like Kids' Turn, the workshops at Safe & Sound ensure that all families receive the tailored support they need to be the best caregiver they can."
Gabriela Fohaco, Parent Child Education Manager at Safe & Sound
Kids Turn Impact #
Often a lack of resources is misinterpreted as neglect, and reports are unnecessarily made when community supports and services—like those provided by Safe & Sound—could prevent the trauma and harm experienced by children and families when a report is made.
0
Parents and children 
in Kids' Turn groups
0
# Children in 
Kids' Turn groups
0
# Parents in 
Kids' Turn groups

From Crisis to Stability: Integrated Family Services

Safe & Sound sees the person behind the crisis—and tailors the solution for them

Ramon, a father of three who cared for his wife with additional needs first came to Safe & Sound for parenting support. With the support of a Safe & Sound care coordinator, he enrolled in the Integrated Family Services program and set goals for his family like strengthening his parenting skills and family resilience, achieving emotional and practical stability as a caregiver.  Safe & Sound provided parenting classes and helped him focus on individual therapy, giving him the tools to make his family stronger and become an active father.
When financial stress became overwhelming, Safe & Sound was there again, helping him find employment resources and apply for jobs. Today, he works full-time as a school bus driver, supporting his family and looking forward to his son's high school graduation.
Ramon with his family
“Safe & Sound didn’t just support me as a parent—they helped me become a stronger person. Their guidance gave me the confidence to change my life and believe in a future where my family can truly thrive.”

“They helped me find a stable career and gave my family what we needed to get through the hardest times. Thanks to their support, I now provide for my family in a way I never thought possible.”
Ramon’s dad
In 2024, 333 children and caregivers received support from Safe & Sound’s Integrated Family Services program (IFS), reinforcing our mission to empower families toward long-term success.
IFS Impact #s
Often a lack of resources is misinterpreted as neglect, and reports are unnecessarily made when community supports and services—like those provided by Safe & Sound—could prevent the trauma and harm experienced by children and families when a report is made.
0
# Parents & children served in IFS (prior 12 months) Including SafeStart program
0
# Households/Families served (IFS only)
0%
# Parents in 
Kids' Turn groups

Healing Through Therapy: A Path from Trauma to Hope

Safe & Sound’s therapy program helps families move from surviving to healing—and toward a future full of possibility

New to the city, with no housing, no job, and solely responsible for her six year old daughter, *Nora was terrified. Having fled an abusive partner for San Francisco, she lived in fear that her ex might find her at any moment.
After starting to work with a care coordinator at Safe & Sound, Nora found economic stability, and Emma enrolled in a new school. But while they may be physically safe, the emotional wounds run deep. Nora felt anxious and afraid, grieving the loss of her community and support system. She also struggled with depression and loneliness.  Emma struggled too—she had nightmares, faced challenges at school, and experienced frequent accidents that left her feeling embarrassed and ashamed..
Our team understands the long-term impact of trauma. Through Safe & Sound’s programs, both Nora and Emma were able to access the therapy they needed to address the impact of their past adversity. The Safe & Sound therapy team works to help children and caregivers—like Nora and Emma—find their way forward. Through counseling, Nora and Emma began to understand that the trauma they experienced was not their fault. Together, they learned tools to manage anxiety, lessen the feelings that overwhelmed them, and start healing. Emma stopped having nightmares and accidents. Nora began to feel more grounded, empowered, and hopeful. Over time, both started recognizing their resilience and strength—and the possibility of a brighter future.
“When our team works with a client it is not just about where a client has been, but where they are going. We want to ensure our clients move through healing and onward with strength and self-acceptance.”
Christian “Sushi” Frausto, LMFT, Clinical Supervisor
Impact #
0
of therapy sessions we did in 2024

The TALK Line: A Lifeline for Parents and Caregivers

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—the TALK Line is always there to listen, support, and guide

Parenting can be overwhelming, and every caregiver should have a trusted place to turn to  simply ask for help—before a crisis happens. Safe & Sound’s 24/7 TALK (Telephone Aid in Living with Kids) Line has answered over 85,000 calls in the past decade, offering immediate support for parents and caregivers facing crises, stress, or uncertainty. 
One father called the TALK Line during a moment of distress. Struggling with how to respond to his son’s behavior and in conflict with his partner, he feared making a mistake he would regret. The TALK Line team helped him de-escalate, reconnect with his child through a shared love of video games, and get involved with additional parenting resources at Safe & Sound. “The first call changed everything,” he reflected. “It kept my family together.”
With over 650 calls per month, the TALK Line remains one of our most critical prevention tools. Thanks to community support, we continue to expand this essential service, ensuring no caregiver feels alone.
“I knew to call the TALK Line to get help before doing something I would regret. Both my wife and I grew up with lots of struggles, and when our son acted out, we had a hard time agreeing on how to respond, and our conflict made it worse. It got so intense one night, and I am glad the TALK Line was there. They 'talked' me down and helped me get connected again playing video games with my son. That first call to the TALK Line led to the support and resources we still get from Safe & Sound, and it has made all the difference in keeping our family together.”
Parent and a client of Safe & Sound
TALK Line Impact #
0
TALK Line phone counseling sessions.
0
Total of minutes of TALK Line support for parents / caregivers

Bringing Hope to Children Through Education: 
Backpack Drive

For children living with financial hardship, something as simple as a new backpack can mean the difference between starting the school year with confidence or feeling left behind. Last year, at our Community Night Dinner, *Mia’s mother confided that she couldn’t afford school supplies for her daughter. Safe & Sound stepped in, providing Mia with a brand-new backpack filled with all the essentials.
“She hugged it so tightly,” her mother said. “For Mia, that backpack was more than just supplies—it was a chance to feel like everyone else.” That moment was about ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and ready to learn.
Through our annual Back-to-School Drive, Safe & Sound provided school supplies to nearly 250 children in 2024, ensuring every child can step into the classroom ready to learn and succeed.
Impact #
0
children received backpacks and school supplies.
Safe & Sound volunteers putting together Backpacks for kids

Spreading Joy During the Holiday Season - Holiday Toy Store

While the holiday season brings joy to many, it can also be a time of stress and uncertainty for families facing financial hardship. With the support of donors and partners, Safe & Sound brought warmth, comfort, and celebration to families who needed it most. Together, we provided 510 children with free toys, books, and clothing, helping ensure that every child could experience the magic of the season.
Impact #
0
Children received gifts during winter holidays from our Holiday Toy store.
Mayor of San Francisco, Daniel Lurie, and Chris Miller, Safe & Sound’s Senior Program Manager -- Volunteer Management & Community Engagement. Mayor of San Francisco, Daniel Lurie in partnership with the Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC), attended to see our Holiday Toy Store in action.

Thank you notes from parents (From the Holiday Toy Store)

The Road Ahead

By embracing lived expertise as a cornerstone of systemic change, Safe & Sound and its partners are not only listening to the voices of families—we are actively integrating their insights into how systems operate. Most recently, we welcomed two parents to the Family Services Alliance Steering Committee, further elevating client leadership in the governance of San Francisco's family support system. Their perspectives inform service priorities and shape collaborative decision-making. Safe & Sound is committed to expanding this model of leadership inclusion, ensuring that lived experience is embedded at every level of our work, from direct service delivery to cross-sector partnerships and policy advocacy. Safe & Sound progress is only possible because of the dedication of our community—donors, volunteers, and families—who share in our vision of a future where every child grows up safe, supported, and heard.

More Impact in 2024

Partnership & Policies
Engaged in
0
partnerships; 
adopted and refined
0
policies and protocols 
to improve the City's family support and abuse prevention and response systems
City Hall lights up in Blue casting powerful glow in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month
Children & Family Services
0
Virtual classes and workshops attended by parents and children
0
Meals to San Francisco children and families
0
Concrete needs services like food bags, diapers, formula, hygiene bags, etc.
0%
of families served through our integrated programming for at least 9 months met their self-identified goals correlated to improved Protective Factors that strengthen their families and keep their children safe.
Community Education
0
Students educated in personal safety awareness
0
Parents and caregivers trained in child safety awareness and mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect
Volunteer Corner
0
Volunteers delivering support and resources
0
Total volunteering hours.
$0
Total value of volunteer services to our families and the community
($33.49/hour)
Volunteers in Action at Community Dinner Night:  Kevin White along with his team from the Order of Malta FOOD  preparing food boxes for our client families.