Tracy Arp Named New Safe Place Coordinator For Advocates For Children

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - Adairsville resident Tracy Arp has been appointed as the new Safe Place Coordinator for Advocates for Children and will be making sure that young people in need of immediate help and safety get the help they need.

A non-profit organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse in all its forms, Advocates for Children utilizes the Safe Place program to extend its reach to youth in crisis, and to give youth-friendly locations the opportunity to take an active role in assisting and supporting young people.

Arp, who serves as direct care staff for residents at Advocates’ Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter in Cartersville, lists more than 10 years of experience with community support for young people. The Calhoun native will oversee the efforts of more than 90 Safe Place locations in Northwest Georgia and her responsibilities will include coordination of these sites and outreach to the community.

Her appointment precedes next week’s awareness (March 19-25) for the National Safe Place Network, a youth outreach and prevention program for those in crisis.

“No child at risk or in crisis should be without resources,” said Arp in an official release. “It’s important that we have a network of support for youth who are in danger, have run away from home, or feel that it is unsafe to stay where they were living. Our Safe Place partners help us to reach those individuals who might not have any other place to turn.”

The National Safe Place Network designates businesses and organizations as Safe Place locations, making help readily available to youth in communities across the country. All Advocates for Children’s locations in Bartow County serve as a Safe Place, as do local fire stations, libraries and many schools throughout the area. Most QuikTrip stores, including those in Cherokee, Cobb, North Fulton, Paulding and Pickens counties, are also designated Safe Place locations.

Youth who are struggling with abuse, neglect, homelessness, dangerous dating situations, drug abuse and other challenges can find immediate help and support through the Safe Place network. These challenges may lead young people to make difficult, and sometimes dangerous, decisions in an effort to escape what it is they are going through. Youth don’t always feel they belong, but leaving home is often not a choice they want to make. Youth in crisis may visit any designated Safe Place site location and receive immediate help.

“Outreach is a key to the success of the program,” Arp said. “Youth need to know that help is available, and the community needs to understand the importance of this program. We work with local schools, community organizations and anywhere we can get the message out to people.”

Yellow and black Safe Place signs displayed on buildings indicate that the staff members at that facility are trained and ready to help a young person in crisis.

In addition to seeking out facilities that are displaying the yellow and black sign, Safe Place has implemented a national network that allows a young person to call 1-800-422-TEEN or text “SAFE” and their current location to 69866 for the closest Safe Place site information.

For more information about Safe Place and other services and programs provided through Advocates for Children, visit AdvoChild.org.

Photo courtesy of Advocates for Children