Have you ever wondered what this sign stands for? I have. I assumed it helped lost children reconnect with their caregivers, but have discovered it is so much more. Recently I made a work related call to the Saint Louis contact number.

Safe Place is a national organization that provides crisis response to children and teens in a wide range of difficulties (such as bullying, homelessness, abuse, suicidal ideation, etc.). Common Safe Place locations are fire stations, libraries, YMCAs, Quick Trip gas stations, and Walgreens pharmacies. They are identified with the yellow diamond sign. To get help, all a youth needs to do upon entering the building is say, “I need a safe place.” They will be taken to a private room, such as a break room, and staff will then call Youth In Need (one of the leading mental health agencies for children in Saint Louis). A counselor will come to the location to speak to the youth, assess the situation, contact and provide family therapy to child and caregivers and/or contact appropriate social services to link the youth to the needed services… for free. Isn’t that fantastic?

Like I said, I spoke with the Saint Louis, Missouri office. If your live in another region you can search for the closest Safe Place by zip code on their website. There is also contact information on their website so you can find out the specifics to the area you live in. Or if you spot the yellow sign on your local public library or fire station, just ask someone who works there. If you don’t have a Safe Place close yet, perhaps this is something you want to help your community organize.

I discovered Safe Place through my work in children’s mental health, but I went home and told our kids about it for two reasons. First, I want them to know how many adults in our world have a vested interest in keeping them and their friends safe. It just feels good to know. And second, I know kids talk to kids, and I want the word to get out. Odds are, our kids will never need to utilize Safe Place. I hope they don’t. But if they do, I want them to know where it is and how to access it, and I want their peers to know too.