Pittsburgh Chapter

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About Our Chapter

Our Families

Safe Families for Children would not exist without the hard work and dedication of our volunteer families. We have several different volunteer roles:

  • Host families who open their homes to vulnerable children. Host families care for children overnight.
  • Family friends who support families in need by providing transportation, daytime child care, facilitating family visits, providing tangible resources to host families and so much more.
  • Family Coaches provide invaluable support to parents and children by monitoring the care of a child while he or she is in a host home. They also work with the parent to connect with tangible and community resources to make sure the family’s needs are met.

All of our volunteers are required to maintain an approval status to volunteer with Safe Families for Children.  They are required to submit to a background check, home safety check, family interview, and take training. They have regular supervision and coaching with Safe Families staff.

Our Churches

We have churches who partner with SFFC by recruiting and supporting volunteers, hosting trainings, and developing networks within their congregation that can fully support a hosting and engage in a relationship with the whole family. Our partner churches vary in size and denomination, but there is a common theme among them–they all have at their core the desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need in our community. If this matches the culture of your church, please contact us so that we can partner together.

Our Team

Our churches and volunteer families are the driving force behind the Safe Families movement. Because the impact of SFFC is based on dedicated relationships, it takes many people working in various capacities to support families who are going through difficult circumstances. We also have staff who are passionate about growing the SFFC movement, support our churches, reach out to referring agencies, authorize host homes, provide training to volunteers, make and supervise hostings, and much more.

Candace Shoenberger

Pittsburgh Chapter Director

Candace Shoenberger comes to Safe Families PGH with many years experience working with children in the Child Welfare system and at-risk families in the foster care and adoption field. She served in a direct service role with children removed from their homes and also with families in a training and advocacy capacity. Candace has a passion for helping to build resilience in children and keeping families intact. Candace and her husband served as foster parents for many years – 10 of the children they fostered went home to family. She has four busy children and enjoys walking her dog and playing board games with her husband in her free time. She helps to mentor foster/adoptive parents and speaks publicly about her experiences as a foster and adoptive parent.
Candace and her family currently live in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and are active members of Pittsburgh Mennonite Church in Swissvale area of Pittsburgh. To reach Candace please email cshoenberger@safefamilies.net

Angela Fisher

Family Coach Supervisor

Angela Fisher started with Safe Families PGH in October 2021. She is an experienced mental health
professional with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. She has experience working with dual disorders, art therapy and has her Bachelor’s Degree from the Art Institute.
Angela has lived in Pittsburgh for 13 years. She is a dedicate mother of two children. To reach Angela, please email afisher@safefamilies.net