About
Project: SAFE is a non-profit certified by the Attorney General's Office to provide advocacy and shelter services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. Project: SAFE also provides Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE) advocacy for adults and children. Our shelter is open 24/7 and our crisis hotline is available at 800-821-9953 for anyone seeking safety and/or needing a safety plan.
Project: SAFE is funded through the OK Attorney General's Office, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), the United Way of Pottawatomie County, and other generous local, state and community funders.
For more information regarding our services, please contact our office at 405.273.9953 or submit a contact form using this link.
Mission
The mission of Project: SAFE is to provide advocacy for Safety, Empowerment, Healing and Freedom from abuse.
Vision
The vision of Project: SAFE is to advocate for victims of abuse, to raise awareness of violence, empower survivors, and create a community that stands against domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.
Core Values
Project: SAFE's core values define agency-wide culture, our treatment of others, how decisions are made, and are the bedrock of why our agency exists.
Executive Team
The Project: SAFE Executive Team comprises the Executive Director and the Board of Directors for the agency. This team is dedicated to providing strategic, operational, financial, and institutional leadership for the organization. The Board of Directors is made up of individuals who volunteer their time and efforts to support the mission, vision and values of Project: SAFE.
History of Project: SAFE
In September of 1984, a nine-member task force was brought together by District Judge Glenn Dale Carter to address the issues of Domestic Violence in the Pottawatomie and Lincoln County areas. The group gathered information to determine the needs of the area. Emotional and financial support was prominent from the community.
In January of 1985, Project Safe, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Oklahoma as a private non-profit. By July, the Board of Director had formed, by-laws were developed and a 15-member volunteer team had trained to operate a 24-hour crisis line. The President of the Board of Directors, Jennifer Freed, served as a Volunteer Coordinator.
Through community fundraising and a grant from United Way of Pottawatomie County, a part-time Director was hired. In March of 1986, Project Safe, Inc. hired a Volunteer Director and was fortunate enough to receive donated office space from the D.A.R.E program. Although only paid for part-time work, Ms. Freed was devoted full-time to Project Safe. Ms. Freed established cooperation with Law enforcement, the court system and other beneficial resources. The number of victims steadily increased.
In July of 1987, Project Safe, Inc was awarded a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) from the attorney’s Council and the Department of Justice. This grant, as well as the generous contributions from United Way of Pottawatomie County and multiple private donors and church groups, helped establish permanent facilities for Project Safe.
As the number of clients increased, project Safe, Inc decided to increase the staff. In 1988, the agency hired a full- time client advocate. In 1989, Project Safe secured funding from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. ODMHSAS became the governing body over all domestic and sexual violence programs in the State of Oklahoma. The monthly numbers continued rising. Project Safe trained a sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and began to provide advocacy for victim of sexual assault as well.
Through the years, Project Safe has continued to grow and expand. Project Safe now owns and operates a 12 bed emergency shelter for battered women, rape victims and their dependent children. In 2003, Project Safe secured a contract with the City of Shawnee and Central Oklahoma Community Action (COCAA). This contract made Transitional Living services available to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Pottawatomie County. Project Safe, operates the bridge-housing program under the name, Hibbard Home.
In July of 2004, Project Safe received notification of funding form the federal Department of Justice Department of Justice. This future funding will allow Project Safe to expand service into Lincoln County. The opening date for the Lincoln County Satellite office of Project Safe was January 1, 2005.