Safe Place is a national outreach and prevention program designed to provide immediate access to help youth experiencing abuse, neglect, or other crisis situations such as riding with an unsafe driver, or being followed by a stranger. Family & Children’s Service launched the first Safe Place program in New York State in 2001.

The premise of the program is to set up “ Safe Place ” locations in the community where youth can go to access immediate help wherever they live. The distinctive yellow and black Safe Place sign, which is prominently displayed at each site, is easily recognizable to youth not only in our community but also across the country.             

Safe Place Niagara, which operates through Casey House Shelter, currently has 302 Safe Place locations in Niagara County . There are 22 stationary sites as well as 280 mobile sites – all NFTA Metro Buses, Metro Link Vans and trolleys are part of the Safe Place network.

When a youth in crisis enters a designated Safe Place location, an employee or manager provides a secure place for the youth to wait while they contact Casey House. A trained volunteer is dispatched to the Safe Place location to pick the young person up and transport them to the shelter. Site employees receive training so that they are prepared to respond to any youth who may ask for help.

For more information about Project Safe Place or to request a presentation for your organization or group, call Casey House at 285-7125.