[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 646 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







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.
                                 <all>