110 SRES 646 ATS: Recognizing and supporting the goals and U.S. Senate 2008-08-01 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 646 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

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