How do we keep kids safe?
Thousands of businesses and community buildings display the yellow-and-black Safe Place sign, offering a place where youth can get immediate help and safety. A Safe Place volunteer or staff member arranges transportation to a nearby shelter or drop-in center and arranges counseling, shelter services or other help as needed. Safe Place provides a place youth can to run to for help rather than running away from home by offering:

• 24-hour help line (208.676.0772 in Coeur d’Alene, 888.673.SAFE in Spokane)
• crisis intervention
• access to safe and caring adults
• drop-in center with after-school activities and mentoring (Coeur d’Alene)
• emergency shelter (Spokane)
• host-home program (Coeur d’Alene)
• nutritious meals and snacks (provided by local families, churches, service clubs and businesses)
• clothing bank
• outreach programs

Safe Place is a multi-service prevention and outreach program that provides immediate help and supportive resources for youth in crisis, including kids and teens who are:

• at risk of separating from their families or becoming homeless
• lacking safe transportation or supervision after school
• being abused at home
• struggling in school
• being bullied at school

Founded in 1999, Project Safe Place in Coeur d’Alene became a program of Volunteers of America in 2004. Safe Place began expansion into Spokane in April of 2007. There are now nearly 250 participating locations in the Inland Northwest.

The local programs connect with the national Safe Place program that started in 1984 in Louisville, Ky., which now has programs in 700 communities.

Safe Place offers the community:

• An opportunity to increase community involvement
• A way to help youth in vulnerable situations
• An avenue to promote positive community relationships
• Connection to a national program with a recognized sign indicating immediate help and safety
• Increased volunteer opportunities

Kids need your help now!
Project Safe Place has operated in Coeur d’Alene since 1999. Now, you can support the development of Safe Place in Spokane by designating your business or community organization as a Safe Place site where kids can get help fast. To become a Safe Place location in the greater Spokane area contact lsteed@voaspokane.org. For Kootenai County, contact bsmitherman@voaspokane.org.

Project Safe Place – Coeur d’Alene
414 Coeur d’Alene Ave • Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
phone: 208.676.0772 • fax: 208.676.1012
email: bsmitherman@voaspokane.com