Build a Safe Community
Every young person deserves to feel safe, supported, and connected to caring adults in their community. A Safe Community is one where youth know where to turn in moments of fear, uncertainty, or crisis — and where trusted partners stand ready to help.
Safe Place® makes this possible.
Safe Place brings together youth-serving agencies, local businesses, schools, transit systems, libraries, fire stations, and community members to create a visible, reliable network of safety. When youth see the yellow Safe Place sign, they know: this is somewhere I can go for help.
Building a Safe Community means giving young people more than a place to turn — it means giving them hope, choices, and connection.
What Is a Safe Community?
A Safe Community is one where:
- Youth have immediate access to safety and support the moment they need it
- Businesses, schools, and public spaces participate actively in protecting young people
- Community members share responsibility for youth safety
- Local agencies, first responders, and systems work together to respond effectively to youth in crisis
- Prevention and early intervention reduce risk before harm occurs
- Youth trust their community, knowing they will be met with care, not judgment
Safe Place helps communities build this network — one site, one partner, one youth at a time.
Why Safe Place Strengthens Communities
Safe Place is more than a program. It is a community-driven safety net that creates immediate, life-changing impact.
Safe Place helps communities:
- Enhance public safety: Youth can enter a Safe Place site instead of remaining in unsafe environments.
- Prevent homelessness and exploitation: Early intervention reduces the likelihood of trafficking, victimization, or long-term system involvement.
- Increase community engagement: Schools, nonprofits, first responders, and businesses work together toward a shared purpose.
- Support local youth and families: Safe Place connects young people to trauma-informed care, shelter, counseling, and support services.
- Build visibility and trust: The Safe Place sign becomes a universal symbol of help — a promise the community keeps.
- Improve well-being across neighborhoods: When youth are safe, communities are stronger: socially, emotionally, and economically.
Across the country, communities that adopt Safe Place see increased awareness, more youth seeking help, and stronger community partnerships that last for years.
How You Can Help Build a Safe Community
There are two powerful ways individuals and communities can bring Safe Place to life:
Start a Safe Place Program
Communities without Safe Place can establish a new program through a local youth-serving agency. NSPN provides national training, support, and guidance to help communities launch Safe Place successfully.
Become a Safe Place Site
Businesses, schools, transit systems, libraries, fire stations, and youth-friendly organizations can volunteer to become designated Safe Place sites. These community partners extend the doors of the local youth agency, offering immediate help and connection for youth in crisis.
Youth: Your Community Cares About You
If you’re a young person reading this, Safe Place exists for you. If the yellow Safe Place sign is in your community, you have somewhere to go for safety. You are not alone. Help is always close by — in person or through TXT 4 HELP.
Together, We Build Communities Where Youth Are Safe
Strong communities don’t happen by accident — they happen because people care enough to act.
Safe Place offers a proven, trusted way to build a safety network that protects youth and strengthens communities for generations.
Whether you are a funder, a community leader, a business owner, or a caring individual — you can help create a Safe Community.
