National Safe Place Week Celebrates Safe Place Program for Youth

National Safe Place Network (NSPN) has announced March 16-22, 2025 as National Safe Place (NSP) Week. The nationally recognized week serves to raise awareness about the Safe Place program, a national program which brings together youth service agencies, businesses, volunteers, and other community partners to help youth in crisis.

“Unfortunately, every day in our country, young people face troubling issues, such as abuse, neglect, bullying and serious family problems,” said Laurie Padilla, President and CEO of 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, as well as focus on the power of Safe Place as a prevention tool.”

Safe Place consists of a national network of more than 20,000 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 Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services, Inc. partners with businesses and community organizations to provide immediate safety and support for local youth. Local Safe Place site locations include Kroger Locations in Clark and Floyd Counties, Libraries, New Albany Fire Department, Clarksville Police Department and more.

Kathy Meland, Safe Place Coordinator for Clark County Youth Shelter, shared, “We are deeply grateful for all the locations throughout Clark and Floyd Counties that are dedicated to supporting the youth in our community. As our area continues to grow, it’s vital that we expand our network to include more locations for youth in the event a crisis should arise. For instance, our partnership with Norton Healthcare has been invaluable, allowing us to add three new Safe Place sites, in addition to the long-standing site at Norton Clark Hospital. These new locations include their Immediate Care Centers in Jeffersonville and Clarksville, as well as Norton Medical Center.”

Since its inception in 1983, Safe Place has helped more than 405,473 youth and currently serves more than 1,700 communities across the country. The program is managed by 137 youth agencies in 39 states and the District of Columbia.