Providing a place

The home is considered a safe haven.
But where can children and teens go when that isn’t the case?
As National Safe Place Week is observed this week, Youth Service Bureau of Jay County is taking part in a program that seeks to provide an answer.
YSB became part of the National Safe Place Network last year and is continuing to work to implement the program both through its main office at 603 W. Arch St. in Portland and in partnership with Jay School Corporation.
“Unfortunately, young people face troubling issues in today’s world and it’s up to all of us to offer solutions, places where youth can go to get help,” said NSPN president and CEO Laurie Jackson in a press release. “National Safe Place Week is the perfect opportunity for communities across the country to assess and strengthen their safety net for youth.”
Data compiled by Indiana Youth Institute shows in the child abuse and neglect rate for those under the age of 18 in Jay County has skyrocketed over the last three years.
The number came in at 12.4 children per 1,000 in 2011. Since then it has gone up each year, to 20 in 2012, 31.6 in 2013 and 36.7 in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available.
National Safe Place Network can be a resource for those dealing with abuse, but it also seeks to reach beyond those who are in physical danger. It is available for any child or teen who needs help, whether it be because of issues at school such as bullying, trouble with peers, mental health, a dangerous situation on a date or just a need to get away from home to cool off during an argument with parents.
It’s meant to give children and teens an alternative to running away from home.
“Jay County has services for youth facing crises associated with abuse, neglect or other family issues through the Department of Child Services, but Safe Place offers immediate access to safety from a wide range of situations threatening their safety, said Christina Picklesimon, who coordinates the program for YSB. “Youth can turn to the YSB or one of the schools for help.”
Any child or teen who feels the need for a safe place can go to YSB, Jay County High School, East Jay Middle School or West Jay Middle School and talk with any adult at those facilities to start the process. After hours, they can call YSB’s main number at (260) 726-8520. (There is also a text service that allows teens to text the word “safe” and along with their address, city and state to 69866. They will receive a response giving them the location and phone number of the nearest Safe Place location.)
Picklesimon will then meet with and interview the child or teen to evaluate their situation. If it is an instance of abuse, the case will be turned over to the Indiana Department of Child Services. For other cases, Picklesimon will evaluate the needs and decide on a course of action, whether its to call a parent or other family member for a ride home or to arrange for emergency shelter for a night or two.
“As far as other services in the county, there’s really not a whole lot for either homeless youth or youth that have run away,” said Picklesimon. “It basically provides that immediate safety for the youth.”
The program in Jay County has not served any local youth yet, as Picklesimon is still in the process of implementing the program. She has led a few presentations at John Jay Center for Learning, and is planning to talk to students at JCHS and the middle schools following spring break. The goal is not only to let children and teens know the program is available, but also to educate them about the dangers of running away from home.
YSB currently provides the only Safe Place program in East Central Indiana. There are 14 programs statewide, including in Huntington, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
The network, which was launched in 1983 at YMCA of Greater Louisville in Kentucky, has 132 programs in 37 states and has served nearly 160,000 children and teens.