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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 308 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 308

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                     THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 7, 2009

   Mr. Shelby (for himself and Mrs. Lincoln) 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 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.
                                 <all>
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