National Safe Place Network has announced March 20-26 as National Safe Place Week. The nationally recognized week serves to increase awareness about the Safe Place program, which brings together businesses and volunteers to provide help and safety for youth facing abuse, neglect, bullying or serious family problems.
“Unfortunately, young people face troubling issues in today’s world and it’s up to all of us to offer solutions, places where youth can go to get help,” said Laurie Jackson, President/CEO for NSPN. “National Safe Place Week is the perfect opportunity for communities across the country to assess and strengthen their safety net for youth.”
It is estimated that more than one million youth run away from home each year due to abuse, neglect, family conflicts and other issues. The Safe Place program is an option for young people who feel they have nowhere to turn.
Safe Place consists of a national network of nearly 20,000 partnering businesses and community locations – such as fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, public buses and libraries – that display the Safe Place sign in their windows. As youth enter the designated Safe Places and ask for help, trained staff members connect them to the appropriate youth shelter for assistance. National Safe Place Week recognizes participating Safe Place locations and volunteers for their unwavering dedication to the safety and wellbeing of at-risk youth.
The Safe Place program, operated locally by The Children’s Village at Christian City, partners with businesses such as Quik Trip convenience stores throughout metro Atlanta, local fire stations and libraries, to provide immediate safety and support for local youth.
“We help identify, recover and reunite children and their families all across metro Atlanta who are runaway and homeless,” said Philip Kouns, COO of The Children’s Village at Christian City and board member of the National Safe Place program. “The Crisis Intervention Cottage at The Children’s Village at Christian City , located in South Fulton County, provides immediate safe shelter for the child as we address issues at the earliest stage of a crisis,” says Kouns.
The Safe Place program has helped more than 330,000 youth since its inception in 1983, and currently serves more than 1,400 communities across the country. It is managed by 133 youth agencies in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
In addition to Safe Place sites, youth may also access immediate help via TXT 4 HELP, a text-for-support service for youth in crisis. Teens can text the word “safe” and their current location (address, city, state) to 69866 and receive a message with the closest Safe Place location and the number for the local youth shelter. Users also have the option to text interactively with a mental health professional for more help.
