Presents: Safe Place Transit Model

National Safe Place Network Mission - Ensuring an effective system of response for youth in crisis through public and private partnerships at a local, state and national level. Vision - National Safe Place Network envisions a world where all youth are safe.

Safe Place By the Numbers 132 Licensed Safe Place agencies 1,430 Safe Place communities 161,197 Youth helped at Safe Place sites 174,908 Youth helped by telephone 19,344 Safe Place sites 13,992,707 Youth educated

Why Safe Place? Reaches youth before the situation becomes a crisis. Creates unique community partnerships Utilize one logo as a national symbol of help for youth Enhances ability for community based support

Solves transportation issues Utilizes existing community resource Why Transit? Mobility Popularity of transit Ease of operation Solves transportation issues Utilizes existing community resource Resource for transit authorities Benefits of Transit Safe Place Involvement: Mobility – Buses and other vehicles designated as mobile sites can pick youth up when and where the help is needed along their routes. In extreme cases vehicles can remove youth from areas where an immediate threat exists, enhancing the youth’s safety. Popularity of transit – Many youth are accustomed to using public transit. Ease of operation – It is a simple process making help more accessible. Solves transportation problems – Transit vehicles can physically get youth who need help to the people who can help them, improving access to services. Utilizes existing community resources as an additional resource – Transit vehicles travel the streets every day and Safe Place designation provides another use and purpose for each vehicle and route. Resource for transit companies. When and if the situation arises when a driver/operator encounters a youth who is riding their vehicle for safety and/or protection, Safe Place can serve as a resource for the youth and the transit company.

Components of Safe Place Transit Model Transit authorities Community leaders First responders Youth and family services providers Youth and families

How Does Safe Place Transit Work? Youth boards bus/transit vehicle Operator waives fare and provides instructions Operator contacts the radio communications The transit company dispatches help Youth remains on vehicle Transit security/road supervisor meets the bus/vehicle along the route Youth boards bus/transit vehicle Operator waives fare, instructs the youth to sit as close as possible and contacts the radio communications to inform them that a Safe Place youth has boarded their vehicle and asked for assistance. The transit company dispatches a transit security/road supervisor to meet the bus/vehicle along the route and respond to the youth requesting help. Supervisor must be in uniform/have identification and must be in transit vehicle.

How Does Safe Place Transit Work? Security/supervisor transports Safe Place youth Safe Place agency confirms and records pertinent information Youth’s parents and/or guardians are contacted Assistance is offered Safe Place coordinator/designated staff documents incident Youth remains on bus until security/supervisor arrives. Security/supervisor transports Safe Place youth in marked transit vehicle to designated Safe Place agency. *National Safe Place staff will work with transit authority to identify local partners to serve youth who utilize the transit’s Safe Place initiative or other appropriate resources. Safe Place agency staff confirms and records identification of transit personnel bringing youth to the agency. The youth’s parents and/or guardians are contacted and the youth is offered the assistance that is needed. The Safe Place coordinator or other designated staff receives documentation of the situation and enters information into the NSP database.

Questions and Responses www. nationalsafeplace. org www. nspnetworl Questions and Responses www.nationalsafeplace.org www.nspnetworl.org Laurie Jackson – President/CEO ljackson@nspnetwork.org Susan Harmon – Director of Safe Place National Operations sharmon@nspnetwork.org 1-888-290-7233