NCJ Number
104997
Date Published
1985
Length
126 pages
Annotation
Witnesses from Government agencies, advocacy organizations, shelters, and the media testified about the vulnerability of runaway children to involvement in drug dealing and prostitution.
Abstract
Prepared statements of committee members highlight statistics on runaways, the problems they face, and the need for more shelter and counseling services. Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services described its Runaway and Homeless Youth Program which supports local shelters and funds the National Runaway and Youth Suicide Hotline. A reporter and producer of 'Streetwise,' a documentary on runaways, talked about her research on the lives of runaways. These witnesses discussed the reasons children decide to run away from their families and commented that runaways appeared to be from all socioeconomic levels. A panel of youth workers from Florida, Iowa, and Connecticut described shelters and services offered to runaways by their agencies. Other issues covered included the lack of services for minority youth, inadequate funding, and characteristics of runaways. The Executive Director of the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services focused on the need for stable Federal funding, foster care and child protective systems, families of runaways, and suicide among runaways. Witnesses' prepared statements and supporting materials are provided.