[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 12 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S638-S639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 258--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 12, 2000 AS 
                      ``NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK''

  Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allard, Mr. Cleland, Mr. 
DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Grams, 
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Lott, Mr. McConnell, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Smith, of Oregon, and Mr. 
Specter) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 258

       Whereas today's youth are vital to the preservation of our 
     country and will be the future bearers of the bright torch of 
     democracy;
       Whereas youth need a safe haven from various negative 
     influences such as child abuse, substance abuse and crime, 
     and they need to have resources readily available to assist 
     them when faced with circumstances that compromise their 
     safety;
       Whereas the United States needs increased numbers of 
     community volunteers acting as positive influences on the 
     Nation's youth;
       Whereas the Safe Place program is committed to protecting 
     our Nation's most valuable asset, our youth, by offering 
     short term ``safe places'' at neighborhood locations where 
     trained volunteers are available to counsel and advise youth 
     seeking assistance and guidance;
       Whereas Safe Place combines the efforts of the private 
     sector and non-profit organizations uniting to reach youth in 
     the early stages of crisis;
       Whereas Safe Place provides a direct means to assist 
     programs in meeting performance standards relative to 
     outreach/community relations, as set forth in the Federal 
     Runaway and Homeless Youth Act guidelines;
       Whereas the Safe Place placard displayed at businesses 
     within communities stands as a beacon of safety and refuge to 
     at-risk youth;
       Whereas over 300 communities in 33 states and more than 
     6,800 business locations have established Safe Place 
     programs;
       Whereas over 35,000 young people have gone to Safe Place 
     locations to get help when faced with crisis situations;
       Whereas through the efforts of Safe Place coordinators 
     across the country each year more than one-half million 
     students learn that Safe Place is a resource if abusive or 
     neglectful situations exist;
       Whereas increased awareness of the program's existence will 
     encourage communities to establish Safe Places for the 
     Nation's youth throughout the country: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) proclaims the week of March 12 through March 18, 2000 
     as ``National Safe Place Week'' and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to promote awareness of and volunteer involvement in 
     the Safe Place programs, and to observe the week with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to invite my colleagues to 
join me in sponsoring a resolution designating the week beginning March 
12, 2000 as ``National Safe Place Week.'' This resolution supports the 
successful Project Safe Place program and encourages its growth. This 
resolution promotes a program that improves the quality of life for 
young people across the nation without depleting social service funds 
or instituting new government programs whose success is unsure. Project 
Safe Place makes use of programs already in place, seeks to bring 
families together by helping them resolve their conflicts. and does not 
reach into the taxpayer's pocket.
  The National Network for Youth estimates that more than two million 
young people run away from home each year. Increasing numbers of teens 
and even children are also being turned away from their homes by 
disinterested or frustrated parents. On the street, these youth are 
likely to resort to using drugs, prostitution and other criminal 
behavior or survive. They are more vulnerable to physical or sexual 
violence, and they are more likely to commit suicide. Without help, 
their future is bleak and frightening.
  Project Safe Place is designated to assist young people and families 
who face difficult situations. The problems vary from one individual to 
the other. Some young people ask Safe Place for assistance because they 
frequently find themselves in hour-long screaming matches with their 
parents. Others go because they are beaten and mentally

[[Page S639]]

abused at home. Sometimes they have a parent who is addicted to drugs 
or alcohol. All the young people who find Safe Places have in common an 
overwhelming need to improve their home life.
  The program works by creating a network of businesses and public 
locations that display the bright yellow, diamond-shaped Safe Place 
logo in their windows or on other highly visible places on the front of 
their buildings. Businesses and locations such as convenience stores, 
fire stations, libraries, and fast food restaurants are effective Safe 
Places because they are found throughout the community and they tend to 
be easily accessible. Also, young people are more likely to ask for 
help in familiar, non-threatening places. In most cases, it is easier 
for a young person to find a convenience store and walk into it than it 
is for him or her to track down a social services agency, travel to it 
and then brave the intimidation of walking through its doors.
  The employees at Safe Places are trained to act as a link to help. At 
the Safe Place they make sure youth who ask for help are taken into the 
back of the store or restaurant, away from people who may know them and 
question them later. The employee immediately notifies a shelter. The 
shelter sends a volunteer counselor to talk to the youth, offer advice 
and evaluate the problem. The volunteer, who is the same gender as the 
young person, will transport the youth to the shelter if more 
counseling is necessary or if the young person would like a safe place 
to stay. If the youth decides to stay at the shelter, parents will be 
notified that the young person is all right.
  Project Safe Place is a national program that operates locally. It is 
a unique collaborative effort between youth service agencies, a network 
of volunteers and local businesses to make help available to youth 
quickly and in their own neighborhood. Safe Place aims to return young 
people to a healthy emotional environment. That could mean seeing that 
the family receives counseling or that could mean finding a place 
outside the house for the youth to live.
  In addition to enhancing outreach programs to area youth, the 
distinct Safe Place signs increase awareness of the plight of troubled 
youths. They remind adults of problems in the community and often 
inspire people to volunteer. They demonstrate to businesses that the 
private sector can play a positive role and usually lead to more Safe 
Place sites.
  Since its beginning in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983, acknowledgment 
of Project Safe Place has been crucial to letting young people know 
that the service is available to them and inspiring others to create 
more Safe Places. In March 1998, many Senators helped pass Senate 
Resolution 96, making the third week to March 1998 ``National Safe 
Place Week.'' Since then, sites grew from 6,000 to 8,000. Today, more 
than 30,000 young people and their families have been helped. Even if 
your state is not one of the 34 that has at least one Safe Place, the 
program has probably still affected your state. It is likely that a 
runaway from your state has been returned to his or her family through 
this program. Counseling initiated by the program may have involved a 
parent who lives in your state.
  My goal is to have at least one Safe Place in every state by the end 
of the decade. I urge all my colleagues to champion this plan and to 
begin by cosponsoring this resolution making the second week of March 
``National Safe Place Week.'' The designation of time is a crucial step 
in promoting awareness of this effective program. Your support will 
help continue the valuable partnership between government and the 
private sector as we move toward a society with happier and safe young 
people.

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