[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 805 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
October 7 (legislative day, October 6), 2004.
Whereas preventing young people from running away and supporting youth in high-
risk situations is a family, community, and national concern;
Whereas the prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is
staggering, with studies suggesting that between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000
young people live on the streets of the United States each year;
Whereas running away from home is widespread, with 1 out of every 7 children in
the United States running away before the age of 18;
Whereas youth that end up on the streets are often those who have been ``thrown
out'' of their homes by their families; who have been physically,
sexually, or emotionally abused at home; who have been discharged by
State custodial systems without adequate transition plans; who have lost
their parents through death or divorce; and who are too poor to secure
their own basic needs;
Whereas the celebration of National Runaway Prevention Month will encourage all
sectors of society to develop community-based solutions to prevent
runaway and homeless episodes among the Nation's youth;
Whereas effective programs that support runaway youth and assist young people in
remaining at home succeed because of partnerships created among
families, community-based human service agencies, law enforcement
agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and businesses;
Whereas the future well-being of the Nation is dependent on the value placed on
young people and the opportunities provided for youth to acquire the
knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop into safe,
healthy, and productive adults;
Whereas Congress supports an array of community-based support services that
address the critical needs of runaway and homeless youth, including
street outreach, emergency shelters, and transitional living programs;
Whereas Congress supports programs that provide crisis intervention and
referrals to reconnect runaway youth to their families and to link young
people to local resources that provide positive alternatives to running
away; and
Whereas the purpose of National Runaway Prevention Month in November 2004 is to
increase public awareness of the life circumstances of youth in high-
risk situations and the need for safe and productive alternatives,
resources, and supports for youth, their families, and their
communities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports efforts to promote
greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the
need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for youth in
high-risk situations.
Attest:
Clerk.