Start a Safe Place Program

Safe Place® is one of the most effective community-based youth safety models in the nation. Starting a Safe Place program in your community means giving young people immediate access to safety, trusted adults, and resources when they need help most.


Communities start Safe Place programs because they want young people to feel protected, supported, and connected — and because Safe Place is a proven, sustainable model that works in cities, suburbs, and rural areas across the country.



NSPN walks alongside every community through the entire process. You don’t have to know everything before you begin — you only need interest, commitment, and a desire to strengthen safety for youth.

Is Your Community Ready for Safe Place?

A Safe Place program begins with a local youth-serving agency that can respond to youth in crisis. This agency becomes the Safe Place “lead organization,” providing trained staff, outreach, and follow-up support.



Agencies best suited to implement Safe Place include:

  • Youth crisis shelters
  • Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) providers
  • Child welfare or family support agencies
  • Community-based youth service organizations
  • Municipal departments with youth response programming


If your community has an agency committed to providing safety, crisis response, and trauma-informed support — Safe Place can thrive. And if your community does not have a traditional youth shelter or crisis agency, there are still meaningful ways to participate. Communities can strengthen youth safety through alternative models such as TXT 4 HELP partnerships, Transit Safe Place programs, and First Responder partnerships. Each option contributes to building a safer, more responsive community for young people.


How to Start a Safe Place Program

Use the visual implementation guide below and the steps outlined here to understand the full process. NSPN partners with you at each stage.

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Contact NSPN with Your Interest


Share your community’s needs and why you want to explore Safe Place. NSPN will walk you through the initial considerations.


Get in Touch
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Participate in an Initial Interest & Capacity Call



 This call helps determine program fit, agency readiness, and next steps. You’ll learn about the program models available and the resources required.

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Evaluate Alignment with Program Models


NSPN offers multiple Safe Place models — including site-based, TXT 4 HELP partnerships, transit models, and first responder models.
Together, we identify the model that best serves your community.

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Conduct Community Q&A and Partner Exploration


Your agency begins outreach to potential Safe Place sites, funders, local partners, and public entities. NSPN supports this process with tools, resources, and informational guidance.


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Submit Letter of Intent and Application


Once your agency is ready, you submit a formal application. This demonstrates commitment and initiates the official program development process.


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Develope and Submit an Implementation Plan


Your plan outlines community partners, outreach strategies, site recruitment, staffing, response procedures, and sustainability.
NSPN reviews the plan and guides revisions as needed.

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Application Approved & Licensing Initiated


Once approved, your agency becomes a licensed Safe Place provider. NSPN issues the license agreement and initiates the invoice process.

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Plan and Launch the Local Safe Place Program


NSPN works closely with you to prepare for public launch — including training, site onboarding, promotional materials, and staff development. You are never alone in this process. NSPN remains your partner through launch and beyond.

Safe Place Implementation Process

Flowchart of the Safe Place implementation process, with steps for starting a program, submitting applications, and working with partners.

What NSPN Provides

Starting a Safe Place program means gaining a national partner committed to your community’s success. NSPN offers:

  • Comprehensive implementation training
  • Ongoing technical assistance
  • Program materials and branding guidance
  • TXT 4 HELP integration
  • Quality assurance and continuous support
  • Access to national expertise and peer networks
  • Tools for community outreach and Safe Place site recruitment


Your community is never expected to figure it out alone. NSPN guides, supports, and advises every step.

Why Communities Choose Safe Place

Safe Place programs deliver meaningful impact by:


  • Increasing safe options for youth experiencing crisis
  • Strengthening prevention and early intervention systems
  • Engaging businesses, schools, and public entities
  • Supporting families and reducing youth homelessness
  • Enhancing community-wide safety and trust
  • Providing youth with visible, accessible places to seek help
  • Connecting youth to professional support immediately


Safe Place is not just a program — it is a community safety network proven to protect young people and strengthen local systems of care.


Ready to Explore Safe Place for Your Community?

We’re here to help you build something that matters.


Contact NSPN to begin the conversation:
📧 info@nationalsafeplace.org
📞 502-635-3660



Together, we can help your community ensure that every young person knows: Help is always close by.