National Safe Place Network is pleased to announce March 18-24, 2018 as National Safe Place Week. The nationally recognized week serves to raise awareness about the Safe Place program, a national program which brings together businesses and volunteers to help youth in crisis.
 
“Unfortunately, young people face troubling issues in today’s world, such as abuse, neglect, bullying and serious family problems,” said Laurie Jackson, President / CEO for NSPN. “It’s up to all of us to offer solutions, places where youth can go to get help. 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 more than 21,000 partnering businesses and community locations, such as fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, public buses and libraries, which display the Safe Place sign in their windows. As youth enter a designated Safe Place and ask for help, trained staff members connect them to the appropriate youth shelter for assistance.
 
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 4HELP (44357) to 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 counselor for more help.
 
Safe Place, operated locally by Christian City Children’s Village, partners with businesses and community organizations to provide immediate safety and support for local youth. Safe Place site locations include QuikTrip convenience stores, local fire stations, law enforcement agencies and recreation centers throughout metro Atlanta.
 
“Our staff and volunteers help identify, recover, and restore children who have run away from home or have been forced from their home,” says Mark Andrews, Director of Safe Place at Christian City Children’s Village.

Statistics show that 30% of runaway children are lured into sex trafficking within 48 hours on the street. “We provide a safe haven for children who may otherwise become victims of human trafficking,” says Andrews.
 
“As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of the community to provide necessary funding to operate Christian City Children’s Village,” says LaVann Landrum, Chief Development Officer at Christian City. “When our donors support us with ongoing financial donations or by attending fundraising events like our annual Golf Fore Kids tournament in September or the upcoming Drive & Dine event at Porsche Experience Center on April 28, they are helping us rescue runaways and get to these children before human traffickers get to them,” says Landrum.
 
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Safe Place as collaborative community initiative working to strengthen the safety net for youth. Since its inception in 1983, Safe Place has helped more than 359,000 youth and currently serves more than 1,400 communities across the country. The program is managed by 136 youth agencies in 37 states and the District of Columbia.