III 

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, 


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SRES 646 ATS 

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 


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SRES 646 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and supports 

2 the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention 

3 Month. 

Æ 


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