Safe Place — Where kids get help — fast!

Pinellas County  I  Manatee County

Safe Place is a runaway prevention, outreach and education program that provides immediate help to youth in crisis. The purpose is to provide young people with emergency access to intervention and prevention services. Whether youth have run away from home, are at risk of abuse or neglect, or are in need of respite from out-of-control family relationships, they can request assistance and be served at any of over 300 Safe Place sites in both Pinellas and Manatee counties. Youth presenting themselves at a Safe Place location requesting assistance will be provided with transportation to a shelter if desired. If issues of abuse or neglect are present, a referral to the Department of Children and Families will be made. For shelter services, youth will be screened for shelter eligibility and generally will be admitted to a shelter if they are not currently under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice or Department of Children and Families.

Procedures to Contact/Refer

Safe Place services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Youth in need of services should contact staff at any location that displays a large yellow, diamond-shaped, Safe Place sign, or may access shelter services and counseling by calling (727)384-TEEN in South Pinellas, (727)449-TEEN in North Pinellas, (941)708-5850 in Manatee, or 1-800-RUNAWAY anytime.

To access additional sources of information, we provide the following link:

Project Safe Place