RENO -- The Children’s Cabinet is kicking off National Safe Place Week to bring awareness to Nevada’s nonprofit Safe Place programs that helps our youth stay of the streets.

“We’re here to keep them safe, to make sure that if they’re ever in a situation where they just don’t know what to do,” said Safe Place Program Manager Norma Thomas. “Or if they don’t know how to approach the situation then they have help.”

Organizers say this week is dedicated to educating teens about the dangers of running away from home as well as trying to resolve difficult or threatening situations on their own.  And the Humana Foundation is supporting that effort by donating $25,000 to support the Cabinet’s Street Outreach and Safe Place programs.

“Reno was a place for us because it’s a great community,” said Humana Foundation Inc.’s Nevada Commercial Market President Curt Howell. “We’ll make a big impact here and the investment we’ll make in this community will bring rewards for many, many years.”

Executive Director of the Children’s Cabinet Mike Pomi says it costs $160.00 a night to pay for one child in the shelter. He says these generous donations help get our kids out of a very bad situation.

“Anything’s better than the streets. The streets are unsafe. A lot of bad things happen to kids,” said Pomi. “They’re vulnerable living out in just the weather alone and the elements coming at them. There’s drugs, there’s alcohol, there’s sexual exploitation, there’s all the things that can happen that are negative to youth. And so we would love them to come in, get off the streets, and we’ll support them in whatever activities they want to get healthy in.”

Last year the Children’s Cabinet helped more than 34,000 kids and teens through its Street Outreach and Safe Place programs.  Youth can call 1-800-536-4588, 24 hours a day to get help.