Citizens for Safe Schools (CFSS) is "dedicated to making the development of character a top priority in our schools, homes and community by promoting trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship." CFSS exists to “connect kids and community" and has been very active in three broad areas:

1. Fostering trust between generations. Its "Kids in the Middle" mentoring program connects at-risk youth in grades 4-8 with caring adult mentors who model and encourage relationships built on the Six Pillars. As of July 2005, the program served 57 mentor/mentee pairs. The goal is to match 50 pairs yearly.

2. Reducing anti-social behavior -- especially substance abuse and bullying. Its CC! campaign provides guidance, resources, events, ideas and financial assistance to all local K-12 schools, both public and private, and helps educators integrate the Six Pillars into their curricula and school climate.

3. Partnering with other agencies to create a fabric of support, intervention and prevention. These alliances let CFSS pool resources and offer greater opportunities to more of the community. The Six Pillars inform all these efforts, such as:

• The Klamath Youth Harvest -- a partnership between Rotary First Harvest of Oregon, Inc., Klamath Master Gardeners, the Oregon State University Extension Service and CFSS -- gives mentors and mentees the chance to work collectively in a community garden. Together, they recently donated 4,500 pounds of produce to the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.
• On the first anniversary of 9/11, over 5,000 people paraded down Main Street in an effort spearheaded by CFSS.
• Youth lodged at JDH attend the “In Search of Character” program, a six-week series in which participants discuss the Six Pillars in an informal forum with counselors, and learn to apply these principles to their own lives in order to make better choices.
• Other events and partnerships include “CHARACTER COUNTS! in the Workplace” presentations offered to the community, elementary and middle school assemblies featuring Primary Focus and numerous motivational speakers, an annual indoor garage sale with seven other youth-serving agencies, "Youth Blast" parties at the Riverside Community Center (organized with the Youth-Adult Partnership), the Pursuing Victory with Honor campaign at the Sports Complex, the School Violence Prevention Committee with school officials and law enforcement, and the Project Wisdom series in the high schools.