HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03151988 - S.6 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS }
FROM: Supervisor Robert I . Schroder, Chair C011t1'a
oio Costa
DATE: March 15, 1988 County
SUBJECT: Designating all Fire Stations .in the County as "safe Places" for
runaways and childre in crisis .
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Refer to the Board of Supervisor' s Internal Operations Committee
to consider implementing a program designating all Fire Stations
in the County as "safe places" for runaways and children in
crisis.! Immediate referral would be made to a proper agency.
BACKGROUND
Fire Stations have always been a place to turn to for help. They
are open - 24 hours a day and staffed by caring professionals who
are accustomed to assisting people A Fire Station would be a
non-threatening place for any child in trouble.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON March 15, 1 9RR APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
Also, DIRECTED County Administrator to notify United Professional Firefighters
Local 1230 that the matter is being considered.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT II, III ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Internal Operations Committee ATTESTED I X9 8
County Administrator pi! tic:';! C'!:;'?: r'''T.,.1C +?2( Fof
• S'�'`Jl.ii\':iJ(Fil:!♦a...i lvl177ty i.U(i�ir lJ��i WI
M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY
au�.?.i 'yGli ."MMES Ra'_ei si h
24 , 1.937
i� ty f 1, eiLatlo.anmrhs ,L•.
safe
for pieces
kwids
Runaway, other children in crisis
will he able to seek help there
By E!-LF'N H.CLEAR communil:ies."
nn,esseanwr�ta' We. Want (each fire The United Way grant allows
Wrenn House to have a full-time
Fire stations have always station) to be a safe staff person to recruit and train
a place to to*r to for help. place for kids, a Wrenn House volunteers, identify
Starting next month, R ' eigh%s , potential safe place sites and train
1`:fire stations will offer ar:'.-ld-d non-threatening place. the personnel at those safe places.
service for ch ;dren. Tt:e stations Michael J.Rieder
will be dezrccat.ed. .as "safc. We are in need of volunteers,"
executive director, ,.
Rieder said. He estimates a total
places" for ��:.;,y,;,��va�'s.and kids �.� Haven House Inc.
crisis. of 80 volunteers will be needed
i,. when all 50 safe laces are identi-
ilnder a^ ���;�:eenlent writ.. P
Viretui F os:�e, a r.iaway sheltal physically or sexual!y abused. fied.
and referr.,.. !.Nene- at .605 W. Depending on .a child's needs, In additior..to the fire stations,
North St., i' d r,;>:auble can go Wrenn House' can provide food, Wrenn House will turn to the.
to a fire Eire station- clothing or counseling, or can business community in the hope of
r��-scnnel ; '• i Wrenn House, refer a child to a medical doctor. identifying 24-hour businessa.s,
a, a vo` : <:::: ��L.'i; be sent tr. "We work vett' hard to get the such as grocery stares, that could
pick,up hi.: =': child back..home as quickly as serve as safe places. Rieder said
"The fife `:.ins were chosen p(,ssibie," said Rieder, adding they businesses in Louisville have
because Vie.:.;v,+: ,affed by caring that sometimes parents will t ring been very responsive to the pro-
professielc- ': . who are used to a child 'n to the shelter. About 80. gram.
helping pe:: : ::,ind I think that is percent of the kits now served by The fire siatie-s will be official-
percent
good: ?::r� to si.:rt," sat`: Wrenn House .are from .Wake ly declared safe places on Sept.
Michael J. iJieder, executive di- County,while 10 to 15 percent are 16, and the safe-place signs wall
rector ok vei: iii;use.'..nc:.,whl*.:.h from other areas.within the state, begin going up.
operates:Yr-mi, house. he said.
Ali"' :..aiGnS. ;open 24. . Wrenn House is a non-profit
hours a ji.a�,, agency that re,:eives funding from
"We is tt+ '::e a safe place Wake County,the.City of Raleigh,
for k �1.: n•�n-threatenirg, United Way, the federal govern- Survey .�._._
place," ;;_id. "The goal of ment and donations.
,,,ur p :'..:�. is to lave a' volun- The safe-place program is being Financial assistance for the elderly
leer s.r.. r', `•::!. the fire station) fended by a United Way Ventcuw F�oor;
within 15 m:'::'±:;.:_;s of th,-call." Grant. Rieder said they hope to • Recreation programs for chocatio
The pi,,i am is modeled after a have 50 such sites, including the Improved d schooling and vocational
for teens.
safe-pirza nrog- .c;Y. launched in fire stations,.around the county T-,e lowest rankings went t)programs
Louisville, Ky. at:out' rive years within a year. ,tor working adults.
ago. "We do get calls into the shelter Powell Faid he encouraged other grouas
"It's not exclusiv,ly for run- frequently from kids who have a .to use the study.The United Way will have
aways," Rieder said. "In fact, problem and don't have any way speakers talc to community groups,and i
nlnsi of the kids Who lave used the to bet to the shelter,"Rieder said. copy of :1,e report will be in the. Torn
program in Louisville were not "Once the 50 sites are in place Greer_County Library.
runaways. They viere kids in countywide, it: will make the The study will be invaluable to those
crisis." services of the shelter more avail- trying to decide where :i�ne and money
Kids "in crisis" may•mean the able to the outlying are needed most,Powell said.
child is having problems at home "While we were doing this well,we pro.
Or at sc:`;1o1 or teat' have been baMy were operating with a kitchen knife.
W nat this needs assessment now provides
us is the ab;lity to perform this operation
with a surgical scalpel,"he said.
'MEDIA MONITOR, November 1987 18