History

Project Safe Place was created in 1983 as a youth outreach program by Shelter House, operated by the YMCA of Greater Louisville. YMCA Shelter House was a short-term residential and counseling center for youth ages 13 to 17. (The agency is currently named YMCA Safe Place Services).

The Safe Place program began in response to the many calls to the shelter from young people who did not have a way to get there. As a result, many youth trying to cope with personal or family crisis situations never reached the shelter. To address this issue, the Safe Place program was developed, designating businesses and community buildings as locations where youth could easily access help. The first Safe Place site was a fire station at Sixth and Hill Streets in Louisville. A close relationship with fire departments as Safe Place partners continues to this day across the country.

Soon after it began, interest in the Safe Place program prompted the replication of the program in other communities. With a small federal grant, a comprehensive operations manual was produced. Today National Safe Place operates as its own non-profit organization, with a Board of Directors dedicated to expanding the program to reach youth in crisis.

In 1988 National Safe Place was created to provide consultation, training, conferences, networking opportunities and promotional materials for Safe Place licensed agencies. The National Safe Place office benefits from the suggestions of its volunteer National Advisory Board and reports to a national Board of Directors. National Safe Place is incorporated and operates through the YMCA of Greater Louisville.

Today Safe Place operates in hundreds of communities across the country and is a positive collaborative program filling a void in services to at-risk youth.

2006 National Safe Place incorporates

2005 Nextel partners with National Safe Place

2002 Safe Place recognized at the White House Conference on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children.

2001 National Safe Place Board of Directors established

2000 America's Promise selects Safe Place as commitment partner

2000 Boys and Girls Clubs of America partner with Safe Place

1998 U.S. Senate designates March 15-21 as National Safe Place Week

1996 First National Safe Place Conference (additional conference every second year)

1995 Providian Corporation became first overall national corporate sponsor

1995 Ronald McDonald Children's Charities provides funding for all Safe Place programs

1994 CBS made-for-television movie, "Gift of Love" starring Andy Griffith included Safe Place sign

1994 Feature story about Safe Place in USA Today

1994 Full page Safe Place ads appeared in issues of Time, U.S. News and World Report, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek in many market nationwide

1993 Safe Place sign appeared, by special permission, in the movie "Dave" starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver

1991 Safe Place volunteers in Louisville and Raleigh designated as "Points of Light" by President Bush

1989 Domino's Pizza became national Safe Place site sponsor

1988 National League of Cities lauds Safe Place as Most Innovative City Program

1986 President Reagan recognizes Safe Place with a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives

1983 Project Safe Place is established by YMCA Shelter House in Louisville, KY

If you would like to find out how to start Safe Place program in your community contact Susan Harmon at the National Safe Place office, (502) 635-3660.