Communities all share a concern about the safety and welfare of their youth and search for ways to keep their young people safe. Project Safe Place is a program designed to provide access to immediate help and safety to young people at risk of abuse, neglect or serious family problems. It is a cost-effective program offering youth and their families access to counseling and effective resolution to their conflicts before their situation escalates beyond their control. Businesses, community buildings and buses are designated as Safe Place sites and prominently display a distinctive yellow and black Safe Place logo. Any youth can walk into a Safe Place and let an employee know that they need help. They are quickly connected with a youth serving agency that can provide the help they need.
| Blue River Services | Corydon, IN | Harrison |
| Crisis Center | Gary, IN | Lake, Porter |
| Children’s Bureau | Indianapolis, IN | Marion County |
| Clark Co. Youth Shelter & Family Services | Jeffersonville, IN | Clark, Floyd |
| Family Centered Services | Bluffton, IN | Wells |
| Promising Futures | Noblesville, IN | Hamilton, Tipton |
| Monroe Co. Youth Service Bureau | Bloomington, IN | Monroe, Owen, Greene |
| Pathways Youth Shelter and Family Services | Madison, IN | Jefferson |
| Youth Connections | Franklin, IN | Johnson, Morgan |
| Youth Service Bureau of Huntington Co. | Huntington, IN | Huntington |
| Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph Co. | South Bend, IN | St. Joseph |
| Allstate | Community Center | Girls Inc. | Marathon |
| Applebee’s | Children’s Museum | Hardee’s | McDonald’s |
| Arby’s | Citizen’s Bank | IGA | Post Offices |
| Big Foot | Coldwell Banker | JC Penny’s | Pizza Hut |
| Boys & Girls Club | Curve’s for Women | Jerry’s Restaurant | Police Dept. |
| BP Gas Station | Dairy Mart | KFC | Sheriff’s Dept. |
| Burger King | Dairy Queen | K-Mart | White Castle |
| Bus System | Denny’s | Kroger | Village Pantry |
| Big Brothers/Big Sisters | Domino’s | Libraries | Wal-Mart |
| Comcast | EMS/Hospitals | Fire Stations | Little Caesar’s |
| MedCheck | YMCA | Schools |
All programs and all Safe Place staff, volunteers, and site personnel share and uphold a general statement of purpose and philosophy that includes:
The provision of immediate access to help for at-risk or in-crisis youth; this short-term crisis oriented assistance will stress a healthier living environment for youth. It provides help within the youth’s own neighborhood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on a non-discriminatory basis. Safe Place reaches youth at an early preventative stage before they have worse problems.
The provision of service that is youth-initiated and responsive to the needs of youth as perceived by the youth themselves. The intention is to help youth achieve their goals, not to fulfill the program’s goals or the personal goals of the staff or volunteers.
The assurance that the confidentiality of each youth is maintained at all times, at all levels of the program.
This model of standard operating procedures was developed by the YMCA Center for Youth Alternative in Louisville, KY.
For more information on the Safe Place program you may call the Indiana Youth Services Association at 1-866-888-4972 or you may contact National Safe Place in Louisville, KY at 1-888-290-SAFE or online at http://nationalsafeplace.org/
