The mission of the Cobb County Safety Village is to provide the highest quality safety education and training available.  This effort will enable our citizens to help and protect themselves and others from accidental death, injury, and destruction of property. The vision is a sustainable Cobb County Safety Village that builds a safer community through advocacy and education.

In 1978, the Public Fire and Life Safety Education division was formed under the direction of Cobb County Fire Department. The division provided Life Safety education to all 1st, 3rd and 5th grades in Cobb public schools. Community programs were also provided which included: Pre-K programs, fire extinguisher, evacuation planning and smoke alarm programs. As population grew, it was apparent cost wise and logistically we needed to find a more efficient way to educate.  In 1998, the division started researching other thriving communities and how they were providing Life Safety and Prevention Education. The Safety Village concept was discovered in Canada and the concept is to bring everyone under one roof and not only teach Fire and Life Safety education, but other safety programs as well. All classes are conducted in simulated environments providing unique and innovative programs, role-playing scenarios and hands-on exercises. Today, there are 18 Safety Villages in Canada and 14 located around the United States. The Cobb County Safety Village is the only one located in the State of Georgia.

The Safety Village Foundation, Inc., started in 2007, is a non-profit 501(c)3 agency whose mission is to serve as an advocate, develop partnerships, and secure resources in support of the Cobb County Safety Village.  The Foundation is operated by a Board of Directors that are elected, and all Directors volunteer their time with no compensation for their duties.  The Safety Village Foundation believes that education is the key to reducing risk and protecting our community.  By reaching out to all residents, we can teach important safety techniques, provide guidance on crime prevention, and most importantly, involve them in a hands-on learning experience.  The Safety Village facility does more than just present safety information; it teaches and trains participants how to react when faced with dangerous situations.

As adults we can easily recall unique learning experiences we had as children.  Research confirms that knowledge gained through hands-on learning remains with us far longer than simple presentations of facts.

Our philosophy is simple:

• Tell me and I will forget;
• Show me and I may remember;
• Involve me and I will learn for a lifetime.

The Cobb County Safety Village, built on an 8-acre site in 2009, is one of the most comprehensive safety training environments in the region. The village is comprised of reduced-scale buildings and streets. These life-like streets include sidewalks, traffic signals, and a variety of structures that represent our community. These structures have become an integral part of the learning experience. The Safety Village Foundation has partnered with Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services, Cobb County Police and Sheriff Office, Emergency Communications 911, WellStar Health System, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, Cobb EMC, and Safe Kids of Cobb County to assist with delivery of our programs.

Check out our goals and accomplishments in the 2019-2023 Community Report. You can also explore more of the Safety Village's history and progress in the 2017-2018 Annual Report,  2015-2016 Annual Report  and  2013-2014 Annual Report.