2027 National Safe Place Award Nominations Open

Think of the colleague who always makes time to support others. The young person turning an idea into community action. The volunteer or partner whose commitment makes your work possible.

Help give their contributions the recognition they deserve. Submit a nomination for the 2027 National Safe Place (NSP) Awards, presented at Focus 2027.

These awards celebrate the people, programs, and partnerships strengthening support for young people and families. Your nomination is an opportunity to share their story and show why their work matters.

Who comes to mind?

• Youth in Action Award: A young person or group of youth demonstrating leadership, initiative, and a commitment to positive change. Think of youth who: speaks up for others, takes action on an issue they care about, helps improve their school or community, demonstrates leadership among their peers, volunteers or serves others, or uses their experiences and ideas to create positive change.
• Together We Can Award: An individual who brings people and organizations together to strengthen support for young people and families. Think of someone who: connects people who should know one another, builds partnerships, shares resources or ideas, rallies others around a need, bridges organizations or groups, or creates opportunities for people to work together.
• Partner in Safety Award: An organization or community partner demonstrating an exceptional commitment to youth safety and well-being. Think of a partner that: consistently shows up for young people, contributes resources or expertise, builds meaningful partnerships, helps expand access to support, champions youth safety, or goes beyond what is expected to strengthen services in their community.
• Model Program Award: A program delivering effective, innovative, or exemplary services for young people and families. Think of a program that: achieves meaningful results, responds creatively to an identified need, uses an innovative or promising approach, adapts effectively to changing needs, demonstrates exceptional service, or has developed practices that could benefit other organizations.
• Culture of Support Award: A staff member who helps colleagues feel supported, valued, and equipped to succeed. Think of someone who: encourages coworkers, shares knowledge, mentors or supports others, steps in when help is needed, builds trust, celebrates others' successes, or makes their workplace stronger.
• Executive Leadership Award: An executive leader who strengthens their organization, invests in staff, and advances services for young people and families. Think of an executive leader who: develops and supports staff, leads effectively through change or challenge, builds a strong organizational culture, creates opportunities for others to lead, strengthens programs and operations, or demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the organization's mission.
• Helping Hands Volunteer Award: A volunteer or group of volunteers whose generosity and service make a meaningful difference. Think of a volunteer who: consistently goes above and beyond, can be counted on when help is needed, generously shares their time or talents, takes initiative, supports staff or programs in meaningful ways, or has made a lasting difference through their service.
• Safe Place® Coordinator of the Year Award: A coordinator whose exceptional leadership strengthens Safe Place in their organization and community. Think of a coordinator who: builds strong Safe Place partnerships, engages and supports Safe Place sites, develops creative outreach, increases community awareness, maintains a strong and responsive program, ensures compliance with Safe Place standards, engages youth in meaningful ways, or consistently goes beyond the basic requirements of their role.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: An individual whose career reflects a sustained commitment and lasting contribution to young people and families. Think of someone who: has devoted a significant portion of their career to serving young people and families, has influenced the field over time, has mentored or developed other leaders, has helped shape programs or practices, or leaves a legacy that will continue beyond their own work.

You've seen their impact. Help us celebrate it.

Review the award descriptions, choose the category that best fits your nominee, and share specific examples of their contributions.

Submit your nomination by January 29, 2027. We look forward to celebrating outstanding contributions from across the youth and family services field at Focus 2027!