What’s New at Kids in Crisis
Kids in Crisis Introduces National Safe Place Program to Fairfield County

Sites throughout nine Fairfield County cities and towns will provide immediate help to youth in crisis

Cos Cob, CT  March 17, 2008 -- Kids in Crisis, the state’s only free, emergency crisis counseling center and emergency shelter for babies, children and teens will today inaugurate 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 104,000 children (through 12/31/07).  Today, there are 16,787 Safe Place sites in 40 states throughout the U.S.

Beginning today, 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

“Teens and youth in dangerous situations often feel there is no where to turn,” said Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of Kids in Crisis.  “With Safe Place, there is always an accessible, easy place to get help.  Implementing the Safe Place program throughout our area is a natural extension of the outstanding crisis care Kids in Crisis has provided for the past 30 years.” 

For kids, Safe Place provides piece of mind, knowing they have someone to turn to for help.  For local businesses and organizations, becoming a Safe Place location is a critical community service, providing assistance to neighbors in need. “I firmly believe that giving kids more places to go for help means we can be more successful in ensuring their safety and their future,” says Janice Marzano, Program director, Darien Depot Teen Center.   The Safe Place program encourages public and private partnerships to provide youth outreach, helping kids solve problems effectively, while focusing on preventing more serious problems. 

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.

Kids in Crisis (www.kidsincrisis.org) is Connecticut’s only free, round-the-clock agency providing emergency shelter, crisis counseling and community educational programs for children of all ages and families dealing with a wide range of crises—domestic violence,