CITRUS CONNECTION PROVIDES

MOBILE SAFE PLACES FOR YOUTH

LAKELAND, FLORIDA In April, 2008 the Youth and Families Alternatives Inc.'s George W. Harris, Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter and the Citrus Connection formed a partnership that offers the first youth mobile Safe Places in Polk County, making it even simpler for youth in crisis to access help and safety. Safe Place is a national outreach and prevention program designed to provide immediate access to help for youth in crisis situations, experiencing abuse or neglect. The first Safe Place decal was applied to a bus by Norman Whitaker, Operations Manager for Citrus Connection and Commissioner Glen Higgins, Board member of the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District Board.

The partnership between Citrus Connection and the Harris Youth Shelter creates about 60 mobile safe sites, which include all fixed route and Handy buses along with Service Supervisors vehicles. It also includes the Administration and Operations facilities at 1212 and 1248 George Jenkins Blvd. and the Downtown Bus Terminal. "When our Operations Manager, Norman Whitaker, made us aware of the Safe Place program and its service to children and youth, our staff and employees became excited about the opportunity it would provide to increase our service to the community." said Danny Ours, Executive Director of the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (LAMTD) d/b/a Citrus Connection. "Our employees have been trained to understand how the process works and will be able to assist any child in need." Mr. Ours added "the Citrus Connection is the first in Polk County to offer this important service."

The Harris Shelter, which opened in Bartow in January 2007, serves youth to age 17 offering a safe, clean environment, 24 hour supervision and professional counseling services. Youth residing at the shelter attend local schools and are provided with all their needs. Youth and Family Alternatives is supported in part by United Way of Central Florida and Publix Super Market Charities. To obtain more information call the toll free number, 800-786-8614. The shelter is located at 1060 US Hwy. 17.

Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc. (YFA) founded in 1970 is the primary provider of shelter and counseling for runaway and homeless youth in the Tri-County area. The National Runaway Switchboard estimates that one in every seven kids will run away at least once before the age of 18. Statistics show that it doesn't matter if they're from rich or poor families. Kids run away from all types of home structures for many reasons. YFA has operated shelters in Polk County since 1995.

Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, doing business as the Citrus Connection, was established 25 years ago to fund and operate public transportation in the Lakeland area. In 1999 Winter Haven, Bartow and Auburndale contracted with LAMTD to provide service to their communities. The combined services provide over 2,000,000 rides annually.