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In March 2008, Kids in Crisis inaugurated the national Safe Place program in Fairfield County, designating more than three dozen locations in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton as safe havens for children who need immediate help in a crisis situation.
Project Safe Place is a national program, first established in 1973 in Louisville, Kentucky, which reaches out to youth who find themselves in crisis situations – everything from family problems to abuse – that require immediate help. Once a youth goes into a Safe Place location, staff on-site makes sure he or she is safe and comfortable and immediately calls Kids in Crisis, the area’s leading free crisis outreach center and emergency shelter. Trained professionals at Kids in Crisis then assess and handle the situation, providing face to face counseling and, if necessary, coordination with outside agencies and organizations that can provide additional help. Since 1983, Safe Place locations have helped more than 111,821 children (through 12/08/08). Today, there are 16,659 Safe Place sites in 41 states throughout the U.S.
Fairfield County children who need a place to turn for help or care need only look for a Safe Place sign in a business or office window. When they enter the location, staff will quickly assess the situation, and then reach out to the round-the-clock-trained professionals at Kids in Crisis. This team of counselors will assess the situation and provide immediate support and guidance. Among the inaugural locations designated as Safe Place locations are all buses operated in Fairfield County by Connecticut Transit, all vehicles operated by the Norwalk Transit District, all firehouses in Greenwich, Stamford, Ridgefield, Westport, Weston, Wilton and Norwalk, youth centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and area high schools
Kids in Crisis expects to expand the Safe Place program even further throughout Fairfield County in 2008, with the goal of identifying 75 additional Safe Place partner sites, including area businesses, municipal facilities and community centers. For more information about the Safe Place program at Kids in Crisis, contact Kristen Tomasiewicz at 203-622-6556 or ktomasiewicz@kidsincrisis.org.
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