National Safe Place (NSP) Week will be observed Monday, March 20 through Monday, March 26. Each year, it is held the third week in March. This highly recognized week honors Safe Place, an outreach and prevention program for youth in crisis. In addition, it provides the opportunity to recognize and honor the valued partners who work together to give help and safety for all young people.
It is also a time to acknowledge licensed Safe Place agencies, Safe Place locations, and community partners and volunteers. These individuals and groups are the pillars of strength that support the national safety net for youth. PREVAIL, formerly Women’s Center – Youth and Family Services (WCYFS), is a licensed Safe Place Agency for San Joaquin County, and program officials said they are grateful to have RTD and Golden State McDonald’s as their Safe Place partners.
Youth may experience difficult problems during their young lives, often leading young people to make difficult, and sometimes dangerous decisions to escape their current situation. Sometimes, youth feel they don’t belong, and leaving home is often not a choice they want to make. Providing Safe Place as a resource for youth offers a safety net for them, thereby strengthening families and communities while preventing victimization and further injury.
Safe House is the only emergency shelter in San Joaquin County for youth ages 12 to 17 and a designated Safe Place. This program has a duration of 21 days and provides youth, and their families or guardians, with case management, clinical services and referrals. The goal of Safe House is to, safely, reunify youth with their parents or guardians.
The PREVAIL drop-in Center, The Spot, is also a designated Safe Place and provides a low barrier, safe space for any youth ages 12 to 25, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Available at The Spot, youth have access to three meals a day, shower, laundry facilities, hygiene packs, clothing, computers, Wi-Fi and charging stations. In addition, they have access to case management, clinical and substance abuse counseling, and referral services.
At all times, and especially during National Safe Place Week, PREVAIL officials said they “want youth to know that they are not alone, and that help is available.”
To access Safe Place, youth can:
Reach out to any RTD bus or McDonald’s employee and express their need to access Safe Place.
Text TXT4HELP to get information about the closest Safe Place location.
Call the 24/7 hotline: (209) 948-1911.
PREVAIL, formerly Women’s Center – Youth and Family Services is San Joaquin County’s only provider of free, confidential shelter and services specifically designed to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homeless and runaway youth. During the last year, PREVAIL provided services to over 5,000 participants through its various programs.
The mission of PREVAIL is to provide safety, compassion, and respect as they educate, empower and advocate for individuals, families, and young people.
