Boys Town Georgia

Children Find 'Safe Place' at Boys Town Georgia

Local community leaders learned about the help, healing and hope provided to Georgia's at-risk youth during the Boys Town Georgia's Fourth Annual Open House Nov. 2.

National Safe Place named Boys Town Georgia its lead agency for DeKalb County.

The Open House marked the announcement of the organization becoming the lead agency for the National Safe Place program in DeKalb County. The program allows site locations in DeKalb County to display the Safe Place logo as a safe haven for children in crisis.

"We are very proud to lead the efforts assisting area children and families in crisis," said Sonja Tobler, Boys Town Georgia Site Director. "The Safe Place program and trained volunteers at the Safe Place locations are able to help us give children an opportunity to get off the streets and find safety, help and hope."

Youth arriving at a Safe Place site locations receive assurance they are safe, and a call is made to Boys Town Georgia to assist the youth. The staff provides a safe place for the youth while assessing their needs and seeking family reunification or placement in a youth facility. Short-term services and counseling may be provided to the child and family.

Rick Orchard, National Safe Place Board of Directors; Becca Orchard, Consultant to the Task Force for National Safe Place; John Gillin, Boys Town National Board of Trustees Chairman; Judge Nikki Marr, DeKalb County Safe Place Task Force Chairman and Boys Town Honorary Citizen; Jerry Davis, Boys Town Associate Executive Director; Sonja Tobler, Boys Town Georgia Site Director; Father Steve Boes, Boys Town National Executive Director.

On hand for the announcement were State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, 85th Georgia Legislative District; Sandy Bowen, Safe Place National Executive Director; Rick Orchard, National Safe Place Board of Directors; John Gillin, Boys Town National Board of Trustees Chairman; Father Steven Boes, Boys Town National Executive Director, and Dr. Jerry Davis, Boys Town Associate Executive Director. The event was also attended by members of the DeKalb County Taskforce for Runaway , Homeless and Sexually Exploited Youth, Boys Town Georgia Advisory Board Members, Probation Officers, Regional Case Expeditors, court officials, case managers and social service professionals.

In addition to the Safe Place designation, Boys Town Georgia also presented Judge Nikki Marr with the site's first Honorary Citizen Award. Judge Marr plays a significant role in the lives of teens in DeKalb County and the Atlanta area.

"In her role as chairman of the DeKalb County Safe Place Task Force, Judge Marr is a strong advocate for teens and heads efforts to protect sexually exploited youth," said Ms. Tobler. "She is a strong example of the work we do to provide help, healing and hope to children here in DeKalb County."

Father Boes also presented five-year service awards to employees Colleen Higgs, a Youth Care Worker, and George Leakes, Maintenance Specialist. Boys Town Georgia also unveiled a plaque in remembrance of Ms. Eleanor Richardson, former advisory board member which is currently on display in the administrative building