Congress Declares November National Runaway Prevention Month

United States Senate and House Pass Resolutions
Supporting National Runaway Prevention Month

CHICAGO (October 3, 2008) – Congress passed House and Senate resolutions recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of November’s National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM). The announcement was made today by Maureen Blaha, executive director of the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), which co-sponsors NRPM.

“Passage of both resolutions helps us bring visibility to the plight of runaway and at-risk youth and their families,” said Blaha. “Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth are expected to run away from home this year and it is significant to have this support from Washington.”

For the past seven years, NRS and the National Network for Youth have spearheaded NRPM to raise awareness of the issues facing runaway youth and to educate the public about solutions and the role they can play in preventing youth from running.

Senate Resolution 646 was sponsored by Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). House Resolution 1375 was sponsored by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.-13) along with 52 other House members.

About the National Runaway Switchboard
Established in 1971, NRS serves as the federally designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth. Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, handles an average of 100,000 calls annually—more than 3 million calls since the organization’s inception. NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More than 13,000 youth have been reunited with their families through the NRS Home Free program done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc. The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY. For more information, visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org.

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Senate Resolution 646

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 646

Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 1, 2008

Mr. SHELBY (for himself and Mrs. LINCOLN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

September 22 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.

Whereas the prevalence of running away from home and homelessness among youths is staggering, with studies suggesting that between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youths live on the streets of the United States each year;

Whereas running away from home is widespread, and youths aged 12 to 17 are at a higher risk of becoming homeless than adults;

Whereas youths who run away from home most often have been expelled from their homes by their families, have been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused at home, have been discharged by State custodial systems without adequate transition plans, or have been separated from their parents by death and divorce, are too poor to secure their own basic needs, and are ineligible or unable to access adequate medical or mental health resources;

Whereas effective programs that support runaway youths and assist youths and their families in preventing youths from running away succeed because of partnerships created among families, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and businesses;

Whereas preventing youths from running away from home and supporting youths in high-risk situations are priorities for families, communities, and the Nation;

Whereas the future well-being of the United States is dependent on the opportunities provided for youths and families to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for youths to develop into safe, healthy, and productive adults;

Whereas the National Network for Youth and its members advocate on behalf of runaway and homeless youths and provide an array of community-based support to address their critical needs;
Whereas the National Runaway Switchboard provides crisis intervention and referrals to reconnect runaway youths with their families and to link youths to local resources that provide positive alternatives to running away from home; and

Whereas the National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard are cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month in November 2008 to increase public awareness of the life circumstances of youths in high-risk situations, the need for safe, healthy, and productive alternatives to running away, and the resources and support available for youths, families, and communities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.

House Resolution 1375

H. Res. 1375

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

September 27, 2008.

Whereas the prevalence of runaway and homelessness among youth is staggering, with studies suggesting that every year, between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youth live on the streets of the United States;

Whereas running away from home is widespread, and youth aged 12 to 17 are at a higher risk of homelessness than adults;

Whereas runaway youth most often are youth who have been expelled from their homes by their families; physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at home; discharged by State custodial systems without adequate transition plans; separated from their parents by death and divorce; too poor to secure their own basic needs; and ineligible or unable to access adequate medical or mental health resources;

Whereas effective programs supporting runaway youth and assisting youth and their families in remaining at home succeed because of partnerships created among families, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and businesses;

Whereas preventing youth from running away from home and supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community, and national priority;

Whereas the future well-being of the Nation is dependent on the opportunities provided for youth and families to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for youth to develop into safe, healthy, and productive adults;

Whereas the National Network for Youth and its members advocate on behalf of runaway and homeless youth, and provide an array of community-based support to address their critical needs;

Whereas the National Runaway Switchboard provides crisis intervention and referrals to reconnect runaway youth to their families and link youth to local resources that provide positive alternatives to running away from home; and

Whereas the National Network for Youth and National Runaway Switchboard are cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month in November to increase public awareness of the life circumstances of youth in high-risk situations, and the need for safe, healthy, and productive alternatives, resources, and support for youth, families, and communities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.