National Safe Place Network

It is very easy for those caring for youth to get overwhelmed, overstimulated, anxious, and stressed. On International Relaxation Day, make sure to center yourself and practice self-care. Self-care is a process of choosing how we respond mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally to life events. Some ways to practice self-care today include:
• Stay hydrated by drinking water.
• Stretch in order to relax and refocus.
• Say no when you need to.
• Set realistic goals and to-do lists.
• Go outside and soak up the sun.
• Forgive yourself (and others).
• List 5 things you are grateful for each day.
• Build positive social connections.
• Drink hot tea.
Do something today that makes you happy and relieves some of the stressors of life. The 5-minute guided meditation video from Goodful can be a good place to start. National Safe Place Network members can also access the “Navigating Self-Care in Professional Development” resource guide on the NSPN support center.

5 minute meditation:

5-Minute Meditation You Can Do Anywhere In just 5 minutes you can reset your day in a positive way.Special thanks to John Davisi for lending us his incredibly soothing voice. https://www.johndavisi...

‼️ ADVOCACY ALERT: Contact your federal representatives to ask them to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023!

📑 This bicameral, bipartisan bill seeks to increase access to services and support for youth experiencing homelessness/at risk of trafficking, authorizing more than $310 million in spending per year for services.

🖊 Thanks for our friends at National Network For Youth, you can CLICK HERE ( https://nn4youth.org/take-action-center/rhytpa-take-action ) to easily weigh in and ask your congressional representative to co-sponsor this bill.

National Safe Place Network (NSPN) invites you to present in the most magical place on Earth! NSPN is excited to open the call for presenters for Focus 2025, taking place July 22 – 24, 2025 in Orlando, Florida at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. NSPN is seeking experts, thought leaders, and practitioners to share their knowledge and insights at this premier event dedicated to advancing the field of youth services.

For more information on presenter opportunities, benefits, and submission guidelines, please visit www.nspnetwork.org/focus-call-for-presenters

Expressing your feelings and needing help is not a sign of weakness - it’s a sign of strength. Learn more about stigma and mental health myths in the BIPOC community at mhanational.org/july.

BIPOC Mental Health Month July was designated as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the United States (US).

National Safe Place Network has a few spots remaining in the Training of Facilitators and Trainers (TOFT) course. The five-week session begins August 1st. For more information, including registration, please visit www.nspnetwork.org/training-of-facilitators-and-trainers

Last week, five federal programs that directly impact youth experiencing homelessness were included in the FY25 funding bills that passed House committees.

The Senate appropriations committee will now move their FY25 funding bills, which are likely to be different than in the House. Both chambers have to pass identical legislation, so there is still time to change the funding levels.

Please join us in taking action by filling out NN4Y’s Take Action form to email your representatives, particularly your Senators, advocating for increases to these critical funding requests. https://bit.ly/4cDP18I

Taking a mental health test is one of the easiest ways to check in on your . Get screened at mhascreening.org.

Stigma feeds on silence. In honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, Mental Health America has tools to help you break down stigma around in BIPOC communities. Learn more at mhanational.org/july.

This July, join us in honoring the memory of Bebe Moore Campbell, an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities. mhanational.org/bebemoorecampbell.

The Supreme Court has decided in favor of the City of Grants Pass (Grants Pass v. Johnson), which criminalizes sleeping in public spaces. There are an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in the United States. NSPN believes all youth and young adults should be able to access safe, stable, and affordable housing in the community of their choosing. We will continue to advocate for funding and public support to provide sufficient housing and resources distributed across communities nationwide.

The National Safe Place Network Board of Directors recently met in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and were graciously given a tour of Youth Services of Tulsa's wonderful facilities. Thank you for the hospitality and all you do for young people!

NSPN's Program Advocate, Eric Tadatada, has been working hard representing NSPN and Safe Place at the Administration for Children and Families - ACF's Family & Youth Services Bureau's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Grantee Conference in San Francisco this week!

NSPN is exhibiting at the Administration for Children and Families - ACF' Family & Youth Services Bureau's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Grantee Conference this week in San Francisco! Stop by and learn about upcoming NSPN trainings, membership, and the difference Safe Place makes nationwide.

🌈 LGBTQ+ Youth: Make Your Voice Heard! Are you or one of your loved ones 13+ and attended a US middle or high school during the 23-24 school year? Join us in shaping safer, more affirming schools. Take ’s National School Climate Survey!

https://www.glsen.org/research/2024-national-school-climate-survey

NSPN invites you to explore youthink, a dynamic platform powered by Children's Hospital Los Angeles. youthink is all about sparking creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration while empowering young minds to innovate and create positive change.

youthink provides a six to eight-month cohort experience to help teams from around the country develop new ideas that support adolescent and young adult health. Whether it’s addressing mental health, promoting healthy lifestyles, or advocating for social justice, youthink offers a supportive environment for youth-led innovation. Teams selected to participate will receive hands-on support around the science and art of innovation, as well as individualized coaching and funding to support their time.

To learn more about youthink, visit www.youthink.health

Home - youthink home description

NSPN is at the 2023 National RHY Grantees Training in Washington! Come grab some coffee and chat with Elizabeth Smith Miller and Tammy Hopper. Learn about all of the exciting events we have planned for 2024, get Safe Place and TXT 4 HELP information, and grab a couple of fun ribbons.

Help provide safety for the future this holiday season. You can make a monumental impact by giving a small gift of just $40 online at www.nspnetwork.org/40-for-the-future. Your $40 gift helps support the future of so youth in crisis have somewhere to turn when they need it most.

Somewhere, at this very moment, a youth in crisis experiencing physical and s*xual abuse, neglect, substance abuse, family problems, bullying, mental health challenges, su***de, s*xtortion, s*x and labor trafficking, and/or immediate danger is entering a Safe Place site. This safety net has served more than 400,000 youth over the last 40 years. Contributions are critical to support National Safe Place Network’s (NSPN) vision of a world where all youth are safe. As such, NSPN is asking for your support because their future depends on it.

Help provide safety for the future this holiday season. You can make a monumental impact by giving a small gift of just $40 online at www.nspnetwork.org/40-for-the-future. Your $40 gift helps support the future of Safe Place so youth in crisis have somewhere to turn when they need it most.

Somewhere, at this very moment, a youth in crisis experiencing physical and s*xual abuse, neglect, substance abuse, family problems, bullying, mental health challenges, su***de, s*xtortion, s*x and labor trafficking, and/or immediate danger is entering a Safe Place site. This safety net has served more than 400,000 youth over the last 40 years. Contributions are critical to support National Safe Place Network’s (NSPN) vision of a world where all youth are safe. As such, NSPN is asking for your support because their future depends on it.

Looking for a great organization to work? NSPN's partner, National Network For Youth, is hiring! Check out their available positions at

Job Openings Please See Our Current Job Listings Below: Director of Community Strategies Location: Virtual - work from home in the United States with travel Status: Full Time, Exempt Salary Range: $70,000-85,000 Date Posted: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 Application Materials Due: December 14th, 2023 Reports to: Ex...

National Safe Place Network's President/CEO Laurie Padilla was pleased to meet with Rep. Morgan McGarvey at Safe Place - Louisville on Tuesday. NSPN appreciates Rep. McGarvey's support of the Runaway & Homeless Youth & Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023 and his willingness to learn about Safe Place both locally and nationally.

YMCA Safe Place in Louisville nearing 40th anniversary of providing youth with help The program began in Louisville in 1983 and serves young people in crisis.

REGISTER NOW: Next Thursday, 11/9 @ 2:00pm (EST) we are having a webinar about the Runaway and Homeless Youth + Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) of 2023! Learn how you can get involved to advocate for the passage of this vital legislation. Register:
https://buff.ly/40aBXlL

November is National Runaway Prevention Month. National Safe Place Network is an and will shine a light on the experiences of young people who have run away and/or experienced homelessness through the month of November.

Mark your calendar for this year's National Runaway Prevention Month events!

NRS, along with nearly 175 partners and 45 Youth Ambassadors, will be hosting creative events, engaging with followers on social media, arranging for landmarks to be lit up green (the official color of NRPM), securing proclamations and distributing campaign materials to educate the public about youth homelessness.

Learn how you can get involved by visiting 1800RUNAWAY.org/NRPM and add NRPM events directly to your calendar at 1800RUNAWAY.org/events

Use this action form ➡️https://bit.ly/3F6oi5A⬅️ to send a personalized letter to your U.S. Senators + Reps urging them to cosponsor the vital Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023

NSPN’s president and chief executive officer, Laurie Padilla, and director of operations, Elizabeth Smith Miller, were invited and are being hosted at as a leading membership association and event planning organization by DMI Hotels and ASAE The Center for Association Leadership. They arrived today to participate in the Association Leadership Forum to discuss trust and other important topics that helps build a strong successful organizational culture. Laurie and Elizabeth are excited for the opportunities which will be gained from this experience and look forward to providing even better experiences for NSPN’s members.

National Safe Place Network's Elizabeth Smith Miller visited Medical Solutions' Jacksonville office today to share information about and participate in Whacky Inflatable Wednesday. NSPN is grateful to be one of the recipients of the Medical Solutions annual staff fundraising campaign.

FEMA and the FCC have announced a nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system for October 4 at 2:20 pm eastern time.

If you or someone you care for uses a burner phone as a part of their safety plan, please BE AWARE that this will cause all cell phones to BLAST a LOUD BLARING SOUND similar to an amber alert.

This could be a safety concern for anyone in the possession of 'secret' phones that they are trying to hide from abusers. To prevent this, and any local or national alerts, from sounding, phones can be powered off, turned to airplane mode, or turned off in the phones settings.

Indicators of Homelessness: Awareness Building Tools for Staff This resource describes certain struggles or behaviors that may be indicators of homelessness, explains how we can reframe our thinking to better support students, and offers strategies to assist in the identification process by looking for red flags and reaching out to the building social worker or...