What Is SVSF (St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center)?

Updated

SVSF — the St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center — is a nonprofit education organization serving Metro Detroit, Michigan. It provides free educational programs, basic skill-building, and academic enhancement for at-risk children and adults, with the stated goal of building self-sufficiency skills for academic and employment success, personal achievement, and dignity. If you live in or near Detroit and need help finishing a GED®, preparing for college-level exams, or finding a tutor for a child, SVSF is one of the local options worth contacting directly.

Who SVSF serves

The organization describes two main groups:

  • Children — through dedicated children's programs
  • Adults — through GED® preparation, tutoring, and mentoring

Its programming is aimed at "at-risk" learners, meaning people whose circumstances have made it harder to complete school or move into stable work. The center frames education as the first step toward secure, sustainable employment rather than the end goal itself.

Core programs

Adult GED® program

SVSF offers free personalized tutoring to help adults obtain their GED®. According to the site, tutoring and mentoring continue past the test itself — toward vocational training, higher education, and/or employment. This matters because a GED® alone is often described by the organization as "only the first step."

For program questions, the listed phone number is (313) 535-9200.

CLEP preparation and testing (pilot program)

SVSF announced a partnership with the Michigan Adult, Community and Alternative Education (MACAE) Association for a pilot program offering free CLEP preparation and testing. Key details from the announcement:

  • CLEP is a series of tests that let adult learners "test out" of prerequisite college classes, saving time and money on certifications and degrees — comparable to how Advanced Placement helps high school students.
  • MACAE sought funding so that Michigan would be the only U.S. state offering this program.
  • Students must enroll in a preparation module with SVSF — there are four different subjects — and in return earn a voucher for free testing.
  • After passing the test(s), SVSF assists with completing and submitting FAFSA financial aid forms and helps students enroll in the higher education institution that best fits their needs.

The contact listed for this program is Sharon Wheeler at the email address published on the site.

Children's programs

The site lists children's programs alongside the adult track but does not detail them in the material available here. Families should call or check the site's program pages for specifics.

Additional resources and partnerships

  • Free food resources — SVSF publishes a list of free food resources and food pantries in Detroit and surrounding areas.
  • City partnerships — the organization identifies itself as a proud partner of the City of Detroit and Detroit at Work.
  • Blog and online library — newsletters, press, videos, and program updates are posted there. One recent entry notes the 2026 graduation ceremony for the Adult Education Program.

How to get started

  1. Decide which track applies: adult GED®, CLEP preparation, or children's programs.
  2. Call (313) 535-9200 for general program information, or use the CLEP contact if that's your goal.
  3. For CLEP, expect to enroll in a preparation module first — the free testing voucher follows enrollment, not the other way around.
  4. Ask about current schedules and eligibility, since pilot programs and funding can change.

What to keep in mind

The site does not publish pricing for its programs and describes its services as free, but eligibility rules, class schedules, and pilot-program availability are not fully specified in the available material. Confirm details by phone or email before planning around a specific start date.