Our first SMILE award of 2025 was presented Tuesday to the North County Family Justice Center’s One Safe Place, an organization that provides services at no cost to survivors of abuse and trauma.

Mayor Rebecca Jones presented the award to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, San Diego County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior, One Safe Place Executive Director Claudia Grasso and staff who provide these important services.

Since opening its doors on July 5, 2022, One Safe Place has helped more than 7,000 people who have experienced trauma, such as child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crimes, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. 

Please help spread the word about this valuable service.  If you or someone you know needs help, call 760-290-3690 or email gethope@onesafeplacenorth.org.  

Mayor Jones said, “As a staunch advocate for community safety, it is a pleasure to shed light on the phenomenal services One Safe Place provides for those in San Marcos and neighboring areas. From therapy to preparing a safety plan to workforce support, their collective services support our brave community to break through cycles of abuse and inspire self-resilience.”

District Attorney Summer Stephan, who accepted the award on behalf of One Safe Place, said, “Our passionate staff at One Safe Place saves lives every day and gives hope to those who have lost it. We greatly value the City of San Marcos’ partnership and are honored by this award. We are continuously improving the services we offer to the community by consistently evaluating what works and what does not for those who come to One Safe Place to seek critical support.”

The organization works with 108 community partners to offer supportive services, including:  

Trauma treatment   
Safe housing assistance 
Crisis response 
Child advocacy 
Education
Legal assistance 
Empowerment skills 
Thriver skills/workforce readiness  

The City Council introduced the Civic SMILE award in 2021. Short for “San Marcos Inspiration, Leadership and Excellence,” the award highlights individuals and programs that reflect the “spirit of service” that has become a hallmark of the San Marcos community. Once a year, each City Council member has an opportunity to choose a recipient.