Designating November 2021 as National Runaway Prevention Month.

Designating November 2021 as National Runaway Prevention Month Whereas results from the Voices of Youth Count national survey, which was published by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago in Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America (1) an estimated 700,000 youth between 13 and 17 years of age who experienced unaccompanied homelessness; and (2) an estimated 3,500,000 young adults between 18 and 24 years of age; Whereas the rates of youth experiencing homelessness are similar in rural and non-rural areas; Whereas, often, runaway youth (1) have been expelled from their homes by their families; (2) have experienced abuse and trauma; (3) are involved in the foster care system; (4) lack resources to secure their own basic needs; and (5) are ineligible or unable to access medical or mental health resources; Whereas individuals without a high school degree or general educational development certificate are nearly four times more likely to report homelessness than their peers; Whereas youth of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (commonly referred to as LGBTQ Whereas pregnant youth, parents who are 25 years of age or younger, and their children experience higher rates of homelessness than youth and young adults without children; Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native youth are the group most at risk for experiencing homelessness, as 9 percent of 13- to 17-year olds in such group reported experiencing homelessness during a 12-month period, a rate more than double any other group; Whereas runaway and homeless youth are at an increased risk of exploitation and becoming victims of sex and labor trafficking, and between 19 percent and 49 percent of young individuals who experience homelessness will become victims of trafficking; Whereas youth who run away from home or from foster care are at increased risk of encountering the police and the court system due to laws that prohibit certain actions necessary for the survival of homeless youth; Whereas preventing youth from running away from home and from foster care and supporting youth in high risk situations should be community priorities; Whereas the future of the United States depends on children and the value placed on their ability to acquire the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to successfully develop into safe, healthy, and productive adults; Whereas the COVID19 pandemic, which was declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. Whereas effective programs that support runaway youth and assist youth and their families by providing safe and stable homes 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; and Whereas the National Runaway Safeline and the National Network for Youth are leading the promotion of National Runaway Prevention Month in November 2021 (1) to raise awareness of the runaway and homeless youth crisis and the issues faced by runaway and homeless youth; (2) to educate the public about solutions and the role the public can play in ending youth homelessness; and (3) to bring together a broad range of stakeholders to tackle the crisis of youth homelessness: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) designates November 2021 as National Runaway Prevention Month (2) recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.

Summary: This resolution designates November 2021 as National Runaway Prevention Month.