About Our Chapter
How to Get Involved
Safe Families for Children would not exist without the hard work and dedication of our volunteer families.
Host Families who open their homes to vulnerable children.
Family Friends support families in need by providing transportation, facilitating family visits, providing tangible resources.
Our staff and volunteer Family Coaches provide support during the hosting period.
Please contact us if you are interested in joining the Circle of Support!
Become a Safe Families Church
The backbone of the SFFC movement is the Church. We believe that the Church must take its rightful place in ministering to the vulnerable and disempowered members of our community.
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 Laura at loberski@safefamilies.net so that we can partner together.
Safe Families Austin Staff
Our staff are passionate about growing the SFFC movement! Staff members support our churches, reach out to referring agencies, authorize host homes, provide training to volunteers, make and supervise hostings, and much more.
Cheyenne Erickson
Chapter Director
Cheyenne is a Colorado girl turned Austin transplant. She and her husband have three kids who are always keeping them on their toes. Cheyenne had an unexpected pregnancy in college and knows what it’s like to struggle through crisis without a circle of support. Because of this experience she is passionate about connecting parents in social isolation to the Safe Families Community. When she isn’t working, Cheyenne loves exploring food trucks, paddleboarding, and playing board games with her family.
Laura Oberski
Church and Community Engagement
Laura is a native Texan who has always had a passion for serving kids and families. After working as a pediatric nurse for many years, Laura and her husband Nick began volunteering for Safe Families for Children while they were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They fell in love with the mission and vision of Safe Families and grew a heart for family preservation. After moving to Austin, they wanted to continue to be a part of serving families in this way, and Laura is thrilled to be serving the Austin chapter as the Church and Community Engagement Coordinator.
Marina Lentz, MSW
Family Coach Supervisor
Marina has lived Austin for 7 years with her husband and three children. She is a member of the Well Community Church and loves being active in their church community. Marina has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in children and families. She has also learned a lot by being an adoptive parent and raising a child with special / higher needs child.