[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 646--RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS 
                  OF NATIONAL RUNAWAY PREVENTION MONTH

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

                              S. Res. 646

       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.

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