Safe Space`s rich history spans 85 years of innovative services for children and families.  It started with a group of concerned citizens and a mission to rescue New York`s children from abusive situations.  After a social worker led the case for an abused child in 1874, the US Supreme Court ruled that all children should be protected.  The Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCCs) were formed with a legal mandate to do so and Safe Space, the original Queensboro SPCC, was founded in 1919. 

It was this group of committed volunteers that opened our first children`s shelter in 1928.  As the demand for Safe Space`s services grew, the organization moved from being solely volunteer-run to employing skilled professionals.  Safe Space continued to lead the field with endeavors like the implementation of a speaker`s bureau in the 1930`s, and the establishment of an on-site school for our children in the 1960`s. 

For Safe Space the 1980`s and 1990`s saw a move to smaller, more home-like residences for our children and more educational outreach for the community.  We also embarked on addressing a growing need for health education through home visits to young parents.

Safe Space continues to be a leader with progressive programs that work through an integrated system of services where creative expression and therapeutic arts play a vital role.  Founded in 1919, our mission remains the same as it did at our inception: protecting kids, keeping them safe and helping them grow.