III 

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 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 308 ATS 

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 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 308 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and supports 

2 the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention 

3 Month. 

Æ 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS