Black and yellow diamond-shaped signs are currently displayed on local businesses and organizations in La Crescenta, La Cañada, Glendale and Sunland-Tujunga. Beginning in June 2017, Kyle Lee, a La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce intern for the YMCA of the Foothills, propelled the Safe Place program, an outreach and prevention program for youth in need of immediate help and safety for these communities.

“We’re looking to help youth out in any way possible – we want to ensure that they have the necessary help when they need it, where they need it,” said Julia Rabago, leader of Social Responsibility at the YMCA of the Foothills.

The Safe Place initiative in the Crescenta Valley is part of a national network of Safe Place programs in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 20,000 community businesses and organizations nationwide display the yellow Safe Place sign, making help readily available for youth. Safe Place locations include YMCAs, fire stations, public buses, social service facilities, restaurants and hospitals. In the Crescenta Valley, Safe Place locations include the Youth Fire House at St. Luke’s, J’s Maintenance, Crescenta Valley Insurance and the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce. In La Cañada Flintridge, the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital will also become an active Safe Place site this year.

It is estimated over 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.

“Safe Place is an incredibly valuable program and preventative measure to improving the safety of our community’s youth. The YMCA is very happy to support this organization and serve its community in every way possible,” said Tyler Wright, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Foothills.

The Safe Place program has helped more than 330,000 youth since its inception in 1983 and currently serves more than 1,400 communities across the country.

The Safe Place Network also operates TXT 4 HELP, a 24/7 text-for-support service for youth in crisis. Teens can text the word “safe” and their current location (address, city, state) to 69866 and receive a message with the closest Safe Place location and connect them with the help needed. Users have the option to text interactively with a mental health professional for more help.