Honoring Excellence in Youth and Family Services
Youth service professionals, dedicated volunteers, Safe Place coordinators, community partners, and organizations work every day to strengthen safety and support for young people and their families. Every other year, National Safe Place Network (NSPN) is honored to recognize those efforts through the NSPN Awards.
About the NSPN Awards
The NSPN Awards celebrate individuals and agencies whose work reflects outstanding commitment to youth, families, and communities.
Award recipients demonstrate leadership, creativity, compassion, and a deep dedication to strengthening services for young people. Together, their stories highlight the many ways the youth services field responds to need, creates opportunity, and builds safer communities.
Awards are presented every other year, often in conjunction with NSPN events and gatherings.
Award Categories
List of Services
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Community Involvement AwardList Item 1
Active community partners are essential to thriving youth service organizations. This award recognizes a business or community partner that has consistently gone above and beyond expectations to support a local youth-serving program—through financial or in-kind support, volunteer efforts, serving as a Safe Place site, or other meaningful contributions that open doors for young people in need.
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Culture of Respect AwardList Item 2
This award honors individuals or organizations that actively promote dignity, respect, and fair treatment for all youth, families, and communities. Recipients:
• Demonstrate ongoing growth in culturally responsive practice
• Strengthen access to resources, representation, and decision-making for young people and their families
• Show leadership in creating environments where all youth are valued and heard
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Executive Leadership AwardList Item 3
Many youth service providers are guided by leaders who consistently champion quality services and support staff in fulfilling their mission. This award recognizes an executive-level leader who has demonstrated at least three years of leadership in a youth-serving organization and who:
• Prioritizes staff support and development
• Maintains a clear focus on mission and impact
• Leads with integrity, vision, and steady commitment to youth and families
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Helping Hands Volunteer AwardList Item 4
Volunteers are often the unsung heroes of youth service organizations. This award recognizes an individual or group of volunteers whose dedication goes above and beyond the call of duty. Consideration is given to volunteers who:
• Demonstrate outstanding, ongoing commitment to a youth service organization
• Contribute time, skills, or leadership that significantly strengthen programs
• Help raise awareness or resources that benefit youth and families
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HEROES for Youth Award
The HEROES for Youth Award recognizes individuals or organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to services for at-risk youth have had a demonstrated impact on a national scale. HEROES stands for:
• H – Hear the voices of at-risk youth
• E – Engage in the discussion
• R – Respond to the call
• O – Observe the need for change
• E – Educate and encourage key stakeholders to make a difference
• S – Significantly change the lives of at-risk youth for the better
Recipients have:
• Developed effective, innovative responses to youth needs
• Demonstrated exemplary advocacy for young people
• Shown broad leadership and commendable service
• Positively influenced the national youth services field
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Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes an individual whose distinguished record of professional achievements and contributions has improved the lives of youth and families across decades. Recipients have:
• Demonstrated steadfast commitment to youth and families
• Supported the values and mission of NSPN through participation and encouragement of Network efforts
• Advanced the field of youth work through innovation, collaboration, advocacy, or research
• Served as a positive role model for youth, families, and colleagues
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Model Program Award
This award honors a youth service organization that has developed creative and effective ways to improve services for youth and families. Recognized programs have:
• Implemented strategies that demonstrate creativity and innovation
• Shown effectiveness through evaluation or outcome data
• Demonstrated potential for replication in other organizations
• Received positive feedback from youth, families, or partner agencies
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Safe Place® Coordinator of the Year
Safe Place® Coordinators play a vital role in maintaining strong, responsive programs. This award recognizes a Coordinator who has provided quality Safe Place® management for at least one year and who:
• Excels in communication with Safe Place® sites and partners
• Strengthens community awareness and youth outreach
• Helps secure resources or support for the local program
• Represents both their local agency and NSPN with professionalism and dedication
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Together We Can Award
Reflecting NSPN’s motto, this award honors an individual within NSPN’s family of agencies (members, partners, and licensed Safe Place agencies) who embodies the “Together We Can” philosophy. Recipients:
• Go the extra mile to share resources, knowledge, and experience
• Support quality, consistent services for youth and families
• Demonstrate ethical, innovative, and inspirational actions that show how collaboration makes a difference
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Youth in Action Award
Youth are not only the future—they are leaders today. This award recognizes a young person or group of young people (age 24 and under) whose efforts go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others. Examples include:
• Organizing drives or community initiatives
• Leading activities or peer support efforts in programs
• Advocating for change on issues important to youth
• Contributing time and talent in meaningful ways
Young people share their skills in many forms; this award celebrates those contributions.
Past NSPN Award Recipients
NSPN is proud to recognize past honorees whose work has strengthened youth services across the country.
Award Cycle & Nominations
NSPN Awards are presented every other year. Nominations generally open in the year prior to the celebration, with full details—including eligibility, timelines, and submission forms—shared through NSPN communications and the NSPN website.
When the nomination period is open, youth-serving organizations, staff, board members, volunteers, youth, and community partners are encouraged to submit nominations.
Stay Connected
Sign up for NSPN email communications to receive announcements about upcoming NSPN Awards cycles, nomination deadlines, and celebration details.
