[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 805 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                          October 7 (legislative day, October 6), 2004.
Whereas preventing young people from running away and supporting youth in high-
        risk situations is a family, community, and national concern;
Whereas the prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is 
        staggering, with studies suggesting that between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 
        young people live on the streets of the United States each year;
Whereas running away from home is widespread, with 1 out of every 7 children in 
        the United States running away before the age of 18;
Whereas youth that end up on the streets are often those who have been ``thrown 
        out'' of their homes by their families; who have been physically, 
        sexually, or emotionally abused at home; who have been discharged by 
        State custodial systems without adequate transition plans; who have lost 
        their parents through death or divorce; and who are too poor to secure 
        their own basic needs;
Whereas the celebration of National Runaway Prevention Month will encourage all 
        sectors of society to develop community-based solutions to prevent 
        runaway and homeless episodes among the Nation's youth;
Whereas effective programs that support runaway youth and assist young people 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 the future well-being of the Nation is dependent on the value placed on 
        young people and the opportunities provided for youth to acquire the 
        knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop into safe, 
        healthy, and productive adults;
Whereas Congress supports an array of community-based support services that 
        address the critical needs of runaway and homeless youth, including 
        street outreach, emergency shelters, and transitional living programs;
Whereas Congress supports programs that provide crisis intervention and 
        referrals to reconnect runaway youth to their families and to link young 
        people to local resources that provide positive alternatives to running 
        away; and
Whereas the purpose of National Runaway Prevention Month in November 2004 is to 
        increase public awareness of the life circumstances of youth in high-
        risk situations and the need for safe and productive alternatives, 
        resources, and supports for youth, their families, and their 
        communities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives supports efforts to promote 
greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the 
need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for youth in 
high-risk situations.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.