[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 308--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 considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 308

       Whereas the number of runaway and homeless youth in the 
     United States is staggering, with studies suggesting that 
     between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youth live on the streets 
     each year;
       Whereas the problem of children who run away from home is 
     widespread, as youth between 12 and 17 years of age are at a 
     higher risk of homelessness than adults;
       Whereas runaway youth are often expelled from their homes 
     by their families, discharged by State custodial systems 
     without adequate transition plans, separated from their 
     parents by death and divorce, or physically, sexually, and 
     emotionally abused at home;
       Whereas runaway youth are often 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 provide support to runaway 
     youth and assist them in remaining at home with their 
     families can succeed through 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 of the Nation is dependent on providing 
     opportunities for youth to acquire the knowledge, skills, and 
     abilities necessary 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 with 
     their families and link youth to local resources that provide 
     positive alternatives to running away from home; and
       Whereas during the month of November, the National Network 
     for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard are co-
     sponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month, in order to 
     increase public awareness of the circumstances faced by youth 
     in high-risk situations and to address the need to provide 
     resources and support for safe, healthy, and productive 
     alternatives for at-risk youth, their families, and their 
     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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