Youth & Schools

For more than a quarter century, Safe Horizon has created effective and inventive services to help children, teens and young adults address violence and abuse. Violence impacts young people of all ages and backgrounds – from those who live in safe, stable homes to those who live on the streets. School-age children who witness violence exhibit a range of problem behaviors including depression, anxiety and violence towards peers.* Young people may also witness violence in an abusive home, witness a violent crime, or see violence in the media. They may be exposed to gang violence, bullying, child abuse, and relationship abuse. Homeless and street-involved youth often experience all of this and more – leading lives filled with violence and danger with few opportunities for escape.

Safe Horizon reaches young people where they are – in the schools, on the streets, and in their communities. Our youth programs provide immediate, practical assistance to youth in need, while providing a stable, non-judgmental setting to address and explore issues of violence.

Homeless and Street-Involved Youth: Streetwork Project

Many youth living on the street are victims of child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or other violent crimes. Founded in 1984, Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project addresses the growing numbers of homeless youth in New York City. Streetwork’s goal is to give homeless and disenfranchised youth an opportunity to reclaim for themselves a sense of dignity and self-worth.

The program has grown from a small storefront to include outreach efforts, two Drop-In Centers and two Residential Programs for homeless and street-involved young people. These sites touch the lives of more than 18,500 young people each year, providing them emotional and concrete support. Streetwork provides youth with a comprehensive array of services including individual counseling, crisis intervention, access to medical and psychiatric care, hot meals, showers, and emergency shelter. Safe Horizon’s staff provides services in a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere that encourages young people to take what they need at their own pace.

Learn more about our Streetwork Project for homeless youth.

Making Schools Safer: Safe Harbor Program

Safe Horizon's school programs aim to address the underlying causes of violence and the impact of victimization. With a focus on leadership, empowerment, and the development of social, emotional, and interpersonal skills, the programs offer students concrete alternatives to violence.

Safe Harbor is Safe Horizon's comprehensive violence prevention/victim assistance program offered in middle and high schools throughout New York City. Developed by Safe Horizon in 1991, the Safe Harbor model assists youth by creating a designated safe space where students can receive counseling, learn non-violent life skills, develop school-wide strategies for reducing violence, and help promote a supportive environment in their schools.

Safe Harbor is multifaceted in its approach, offering various components that respond to students’ needs through services that include

• The PEARLS Curriculum (People Empowered to Address Real Life Situations), an interactive victim assistance / trauma education curriculum;
• Group counseling;
• Social and recreational groups that foster positive youth interactions; and
• Leadership opportunities for youth who want to help their peers end violence and promote healthy relationships.

* Statistics from Carter, Jane & Susan Schecter (1997, November). Child Abuse ∓ Domestic Violence: Creating Community Partnerships for Safe Families. Family Violence Prevention Fund.