```

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 308 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 308

  Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway 
                           Prevention Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2013

     Mr. Hatch (for himself and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway 
                           Prevention Month.

Whereas the prevalence of runaway and homelessness among youth is staggering, 
        with studies suggesting that every year, between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 
        youth live on the streets of the United States;
Whereas the problem of youth running away from home or a foster care placement 
        is widespread, and youth aged 12 to 17 are at a higher risk of 
        homelessness than adults;
Whereas runaway youth most often are youth who have been expelled from their 
        homes by their families; physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at 
        home; discharged by State custodial systems without adequate transition 
        plans; separated from their parents by death and divorce; too poor to 
        secure their own basic needs; and ineligible or unable to access 
        adequate medical or mental health resources;
Whereas children and youth in foster care, particularly those in groups home are 
        especially vulnerable to running away;
Whereas, children and youth who run away are at increased risk for domestic sex 
        trafficking;
Whereas effective programs supporting runaway youth and assisting youth and 
        their families in remaining at home or in a safe foster home, succeed 
        because of partnerships created among families, youth based advocacy 
        organizations, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement 
        agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and businesses;
Whereas preventing youth from running away from home or from foster care and 
        supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community, and 
        national priority;
Whereas the future well-being of the Nation is dependent on the opportunities 
        provided for youth and families to acquire the knowledge, skills, and 
        abilities needed to help youth successfully transition to a safe, 
        healthy and productive adulthood, as well as having opportunities for 
        youth to make connections to caring adults and to engage in age-
        appropriate activities;
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 Safeline provides crisis intervention and referrals 
        to reconnect runaway youth to their families and link youth to local 
        resources that provide positive alternatives to running away from home; 
        and
Whereas the National Network for Youth and National Runaway Safeline are 
        cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month in November to increase 
        public awareness of the life circumstances of youth in high-risk 
        situations, and the need for safe, healthy, and productive alternatives, 
        resources, and support for youth, families, and communities: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and supports the goals and 
ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.
                                 <all>
```