Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI) officials have announced that COI has entered into a licensing agreement with National Safe Place to begin Project Safe Place in Chautauqua County. Project Safe Place creates a network of "Safe Place location" through out the community and are designated by a distinctive yellow and black Safe Place sign.
Safe House Director Bill Vogt said, "Be creating this safe place network of businesses, community agencies, and other public buildings; youth will easily be able to access immediate help wherever they are." The Jamestown YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County have agreed to be the first two Safe Places in Chautauqua County.
Vogt
explained that a youth in crisis simply needs to walk into a designated
Safe Place location (identified by a Safe Place sign or decal) and tell
the first available employee that they need Safe Place help. The
employee will find a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they
call the Safe House. The Safe House will send a staff person to talk
with the youth about the current crisis and, if necessary, transport him
or her to the Safe House for counseling, support, a place to stay or other
resources. Once at the Safe House, family members or guardians are called
to let them know that their youth is safe.
The Safe House is licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services and offers a full range of crisis services including: Shelter, meals, clothing,
counseling, health services, family mediation,
independent living skills training, referrals, and after care services. The Safe House is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
The Safe House of Chautauqua County has been in
continuous operation since March 1993, and is now an integral part of services for at-risk youth in
Chautauqua County. Its establishment was a true grass roots effort that began with the involvement of a group of concerned citizens - mainly parishioners of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Jamestown = who were concerned by reports of young people spending nights in cars, abandoned buildings, and all night restaurants. Since that time it has worked with and average of 120 youth each year.
If your business or agency is interested in becoming a Safe Place for our youth, please call Bill Vogt or Cathie Kujawa at the Safe House (661-9446) for more information.