•August 20, 2025•

Submitted

Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family-like support for desperate, low-income families through a community of devoted volunteers motivated by compassion to keep children safe and ultimately together with their families. 

Parents voluntarily place their children with safe, loving, and screened host families where they are cared for, while additional volunteers help parents to restore stability in their lives. SFFC strives to meet three objectives. First, to prevent child abuse by providing safe, temporary homes for children from families in crisis. Secondly, to support and stabilize families in crisis by providing mentoring and referrals to appropriate resources. Third, to deflect children from entering the child welfare system by keeping healthy families intact and reunifying children with their parents.

Safe Families for Children believes children shouldn’t have to be harmed before they are helped and aims to prevent abuse by addressing the root issues of parents. This innovative approach prevents many more full-blown problems and helps create healthier families and, in turn, healthier communities. Safe Families engages a network of volunteers who serve as host families (who open their homes to children from families in crisis), family friends (who provide emotional support to families until they are able to get back on their feet), and resource friends (who provide goods or services to help families through their crisis). The biological parent is empowered by retaining custody of the child and averting the complexities of the court system.

2015

Moultrie County is sprucing up the courthouse. On Thursday, August 20th, the Moultrie County Board proceeded with the restoration of the exterior of the courthouse with a unanimous vote, based on the recommendations of Building and Grounds committee Co-chair, Gary Smith.

Running a tight ship is a challenge for the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department, and recent uncertainties in state funding are putting more pressure on the limited staff. “With eight Deputies covering the County 24/7, we are already running pretty close,” Sheriff Chris Simms said, noting that similar and surrounding Counties operate with up to forty percent more staff.