What We Do
KidSafe works to support our neighbors
KidSafe, first and foremost, works to address situations in which vulnerable children are experiencing or are at risk of abuse or neglect – including physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect. When are children at risk? Almost always, it’s when parents or other primary caretakers are affected by such stressful and traumatizing factors as substance abuse, domestic violence, lack of employment or adequate housing, incarceration of a partner, physical or psychological factors – often occurring at the same time.
How does KidSafe help children and families?
KidSafe connects:
- Families in crisis/kids at risk with coordinated services and supports
- Vermonters who work with children and youth with training, to know how to recognize and report suspected maltreatment
- Human services staff with each other, connecting people and agencies so that our child protection systems are effective.
Working with Families
At the family level, KidSafe leads Child Protection Teams—known as CPFST & CHARM—that provide coordinated supports for parents who are coping with issues that are affecting their child(ren)’s safety. KidSafe brings together everyone who can help, to work with the parents and take concrete steps to immediately improve the family’s safety.
Our community offers an array of supports and services to families in crisis. To be effective and ensure that children are safe, it is essential that their parents or other primary caregivers have access to coordinated services. That’s where KidSafe comes in:
- Serving as ‘neutral convener’ with no agency agenda other than improved child safety
- Making sure everyone is communicating and providing services effectively
- Cutting through interagency red tape and preventing duplication of effort, while ensuring that no child ‘falls through the cracks’.
