May 7, 2009 9:43 pm US/Central
Program Offered Support To Troubled Mother
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Generous residents briefly took in Araina Page's three boys as she rebuilt her life, thanks to a program called Safe Families.
CBS
Earlier this year, a young mother was in crisis, unable to care for her children. Three families stepped in to help. They took her kids into their own homes, caring for them until she got back on her feet. Over the last six years, more than 1,000 children have been sheltered in this way.
Jim Williams has the story of a remarkable program called Safe Families.
Last year, Araina Page realized her life was far from the dreams of her childhood.
"I pictured myself being married, having a wonderful home, a nice stable career, and I had none of those things in place," she said. "So I was just totally lost."
Araina was in her early twenties, with three very young sons.
Separated from her husband, who she says didn't pay child support, she couldn't keep her low-paying job at a sandwich shop because she couldn't afford child care.
Araina was so desperate she called the state Department of Children and Family Services.
"I said, 'Hey, you know, is there a thing, anything, I can do? Can you take my children temporarily until I can get on my feet, get a job and get situated?'" she recalled.
The case worker urged Araina not turn her children over to the state because it might be hard to get them back. But there was another solution called Safe Families. It's not foster care. Government is not involved. It's based on an old-fashioned idea.
"We open our homes and our hearts to people who are strangers to us because we see they are going thrhough a rough time and we'd want the same for us if we were in that situation," Tom Maluga of Chicago Safe Families said.
Since the program started five years ago, 345 families have taken in children. They stay in their new homes only temporarily -- from one day to six months. DCFS itself has praised Safe Families, saying it is a good alternative to foster care.
Araina's youngest son, Michael -- less than a year old then -- went to live with Ann McAveeney, her husband and their two daughters in Lake Forest. Araina's two older boys went to live with two other families.
"I thought I prepared myself for it mentally," she said of the separation, "but like the day they left, you know, I put them in the car and I went back in the house, and as I was going back into the house, I cried, you know?"
But in the other homes, her children found safe, loving families.
"It's not about how much you acquire in life, it's about how much you can give back," Ann McAveeney said.
One important benefit: The parents, like Araina, are encouraged to see their children as often as they like.
Today, Araina is back on her feet. All of her sons are living with her on Chicago's South Side.
"For them to be here with me is just a blessing. I feel so happy and relieved that they're back home," she said.
And Araina is grateful to the family 40 miles away who helped her.
Remember, this is not foster care. Families who take in children do not get paid. In fact, they have to cover all of a child's expenses. And they must undergo a thorough background check. But volunteer families, like the McAveeneys, say the rewards are enormous.
ClickÂ
here to learn more about Safe Families.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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