Safe Place Program

Benton County Safe Place

A program called Safe Place was established in 1983 in Louisville, KY and has since become a national program.  A Safe Place network of business and public locations was established where young people in crisis situations could go for immediate help.  Volunteers are recruited and trained to respond to these young people in need.  When a youth asks for help at a Safe Place site, Benton County dispatch is called and a Safe Place volunteer responds to the site.  The volunteer is there to reach young people while they are still in the early stages of crisis, hopefully preventing serious problems from becoming worse.  Safe Place volunteer responders wait with the youth at the Safe Place site while the parent/guardian is contacted and comes to pick up the youth and/or services can be provided.  

Safe Place allows youth to make a positive choice when they are facing challenges or an early stage of crisis.  The program also lets them know they have a community that cares about them and their safety.  Safe Place creates a system for youth when they need help.  It promotes a community wide effort of support and care for our youth and a better place to live. 

Purdue Extension Benton County is the host agency for Benton County Safe Place and is partnering with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department for dispatch and 24 hour hotline. 

Students need to know about the program for their own benefit and for the benefit of their friends and community.  Information is provided to every middle and high school student in Benton County (grades 5-12).

Benton County Safe Place Sites

  • Benton County EMS - Fowler 
  • Benton County Public Library - Fowler
  • Benton County Sheriff's Department - Fowler
  • Benton Health and Wellness Center - Fowler
  • Benton County EMS - Boswell
  • Boswell Public Library
  • Town of Boswell - Boswell Community Center
  • Farmers and Merchants Bank - Boswell
  • Ceres Solution - Templeton
  • Strasburger Trucking - Earl Park
  • Farmers and Merchants Bank - Otterbein
  • Fire and Rescue - Otterbein
  • Pizza King - Otterbein
  • Oxford Public Library

 More information on safe place

Ever wonder what they mean? The Safe Place sign indicates that any young person can enter the location and ask for help.

What is Safe Place®? Safe Place is a national outreach and prevention program for youth in crisis. More than 20,000 locations across the U.S. and 2,000+ in Indiana, display the yellow and black Safe Place sign, the universal symbol of help and safety for all young people.

Most licensed Safe Place agencies serve youth between the ages of 12 to 17 years old, although some agencies serve younger and older youth. To learn more, please visit: www.nationalsafeplace.org/what-is-safe-place.

Indiana has been operating Safe Place programs since 1987. Since that time, nearly 15,000 young people accessed immediate safety and were connected to resources to keep them off the streets.

It is estimated that more than one million youth run away from home each year due to abuse, neglect, family conflicts and other issues. The Safe Place program is an option for young people who feel they have nowhere to turn.

There are nineteen Safe Place programs serving youth in 31 counties across the state of Indiana with 2,000 stationary and mobile sites ready to help any Indiana youth in need.  In 2019, 450 youth were helped through the Safe Place program and nearly 150,000 youth were educated about how to get help through Safe Place in times of crisis. 

The Safe Place program, operated locally by Purdue Extension Benton County, partners with 14 businesses and community organizations such as the Benton County EMS Boswell and Fowler, Benton County Public Library, Benton County Sheriff Department, Benton County Health & Wellness Center, Boswell Public Library, Ceres Solutions Templeton, Farmers & Merchants Bank Boswell, Otterbein Pizza King, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Otterbein, EMS & fire Department, Otterbein, Oxford Public Library, Strasburger Trucking and Town of Boswell to provide Benton County youth immediate safety and access to supportive resources.  

 For more information about Benton County Safe Place program reach out to Cherilynn L Mundell at Purdue Extension Benton County Office at 765-884-0140 ext 8158 or https://extension.purdue.edu/county/benton/benton-county-hhs.html

                                                                                                          

                                                                Thank You Benton County

For Expanding the Safety Net for Youth