Topic: Resources (7 posts)

National Safe Place, in collaboration with Indiana University, have their first academic article featured in the Journal for Youth and Adolescence highlighting the effects of the Safe Place program for youth in need.

National Safe Place: Meeting the Immediate Needs of Runaway and Homeless Youth

Abstract: An estimated 1.6 million youth run away from home each year. While on the run, these youth are vulnerable to exploitation, victimization, increased dangers and perpetration of criminal behavior. Runaway and homeless youth are far more likely to engage in substance use and delinquent behavior, drop out of school and suffer from sexually transmitted diseases and mental illness at greater rates than the norm. Timely and direct intervention in runaway and throwaway cases is imperative to protect youth from the high risks of living on the streets. National Safe Place is an outreach and prevention program that is uniquely designed to provide immediate safety and access to services for any youth in need. In partnership with over 360 youth serving agencies and over 10,000 businesses and community organizations across the United States, the Safe Place program educates youth about alternatives to running away and homelessness and provides easily accessible links to service providers. Ongoing data collection indicates that National Safe Place has been successful in reaching endangered youth at risk of abuse, neglect or serious family problems but that expanded program models remain needed. The challenges and successes of current programming and the future of National Safe Place program expansion are discussed.

Region I: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services - http://www.nenetwork.org/

Region II: Empire State Coalition of Youth & Family Services - http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/

Region III: Mid-Atlantic Network of Youth & Family Services - http://www.manynet.org/

Region IV: Southeastern Network of Youth & Family Services - http://www.senetwork.org/

Region V: Youth Network Council - http://www.youthnetworkcouncil.org/

Region VI: Southwest Network of Youth Services - http://www.tnoys.org/

Region VII: MINK Youth Service Network - http://www.minkyouthservicenetwork.org/

Region VIII: Mountain Plains Network for Youth - http://www.mtnplains.org/

Region IX: Western States Youth Services Network - http://www.wsysn.com/

Region X: Northwest Network for Youth - http://www.nwny.org/

National Alliance to End Homelessness, Focus Area on Youth - http://www.naeh.org/section/policy/focusareas/youth

National Coalition for the Homeless, Fact Sheet on Homeless Youth -http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/youth.html

National Conference on State Legislatures - http://www.ncls.org/

National Governors' Assocation - http://www.nga.org/

National League of Cities - http://www.nlc.org/

U.S. Conference of Mayors - http://www.usmayors.org/

Family and Youth Service Bureau - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program - http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/

White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Federal Register - http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

Legislative information from the Library of Congress - thomas.loc.gov

Helping America's Youth - http://www.helpingamericasyouth.gov/

Legislation

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/aboutfysb/RHYComp.pdf

Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, McKinney-Vento History - http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/lawsandregs/mckv.cfm

National Coalition for the Homeless, McKinney-Vento Fact Sheet - http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/McKinney.pdf

National Safe Place - www.nationalsafeplace.org

National Network for Youth - www.nn4youth.org

National Runaway Switchboard - www.1800runaway.org

Child Welfare League of America - www.cwla.org