Last Updated on March 18, 2024, 9:53 AM | Published: March 18, 2024
Pivot Oklahoma Youth Services sends this information as posted below:
[OKLAHOMA CITY, March 15, 2024] — One in every seven children in America experiences child abuse or neglect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Programs like Safe Place are an invaluable community resource for those under the age of 18.
National Safe Place Week, which this month is March 17-23, gives partner organizations the opportunity to bring awareness to the services they provide and inform youth how to seek help throughout the city.
Safe Place consists of a national network of thousands of partnering businesses and community locations. Local outreach organizations like Pivot in Oklahoma City are critical to the program’s implementation.
“We are always looking for how we can meet needs in our community in our age range, and being able to meet immediate needs like with Safe Place gives Pivot an additional avenue to serve,” said Pivot’s CEO and President Jennifer Goodrich. “We are grateful for OnCue, the Metropolitan Library System and our local fire departments who are stepping up to the plate to meet these needs.”
If contacted by a Safe Place location, a Pivot representative will arrive at the location to provide the youth with advice, help discuss their current situation, liaison with law enforcement and provide a place to stay if needed. In nonemergency situations, this unique program serves as a quick and easy option for youth to seek help outside of the home and school.
“We often witness young people in our stores needing resources,” said OnCue President Laura Aufleger. “The Safe Place program allows our team to reach out to the professionals at our partnering organizations, Pivot and Payne County Youth Services, and get assistance for those seeking help.”
Safe Place was reestablished in the Oklahoma City area in 2019. OnCue stores, the fire department and the Metropolitan Library System played key roles in the initiative. These partners create a broad geographical footprint across the city with the mission to extend support and create a safety net for youth.
“With nineteen locations spread throughout Oklahoma County, most of which provide services every day and are open 70 hours per week, the Metropolitan Library System provides a convenient connection point between youth in crisis and the vital services of Pivot and the Safe Place program,” said Metropolitan Library System Regional Director Mark Schuster.
“With nineteen locations spread throughout Oklahoma County, most of which provide services every day and are open 70 hours per week, the Metropolitan Library System provides a convenient connection point between youth in crisis and the vital services of Pivot and the Safe Place program,” said Metropolitan Library System Regional Director Mark Schuster.
Identified by a large black and yellow sign on the building, these locations are a part of the 22,097 Safe Place sites available across the country, showing that immediate help is never too far away.
Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357) to receive a text message with information about the closest Safe Place® location. Users will also have the option to text interactively with a counselor for more help.
For more information, visit www.pivotok.org or www.nationalsafeplace.org.
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