City Council Declares November National Runaway Prevention Month
WHEREAS, Metro-Help was established in 1971 to fill a need for comprehensive crisis Intervention for young people in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, the agency received an eight-month federal demonstration grant to Establish a national hotline. During this time, 11,000 calls were received demonstrating the need for this type of service; and
WHEREAS, National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM) is spearheaded each year by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and National Network for Youth (NN4Y); and
WHEREAS, NRPM raises awareness of the runaway and homeless youth crisis and the issues that these young people face, as well as educates the public about solutions and the role they can play in ending youth homelessness; and
WHEREAS, The crisis services are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year throughout the United States and its territories; and
WHEREAS, NRS makes 250,000 connections to help and bring hope through its hotline, online and offline services; and
WHEREAS, NRS has a free 14-module curriculum available in English and Spanish. It is a curriculum which consists of evidence-based assistance to help build life skills, increase awareness & knowledge about runaway resources and prevention; and
WHEREAS, NRS provides education and solution-focused interventions, offers non-sectarian, non-judgmental support, respects confidentiality, collaborates with volunteers, and responds to at-risk youth and their families; and
WHEREAS, NRS also provides services to siblings, teachers, officers, agency personnel, and anyone who is impacted by the runaway youth; and
WHEREAS, NRS provides services from crisis intervention, information, referrals, conference calls, message services, and Home Free (which has helped more than 15,000 youth reunite with their family); and
WHEREAS, The Green Light Project is a symbol for National Runaway Prevention Month and has been supported in the past with events such as a special NRPM message on the Wrigley Field Marquee and the lighting green of the Empire State Building in NYC; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, over 350,000 connections were made through social media using the #NRPM2016, further expanding the reach of the NRPM message and support for runaway and homeless youth; and
WHEREAS, NRPM began in October 2002. President Bush hosted the landmark White House Conference on Exploited and Runaway Children, where leaders from across the country convened to discuss issues and challenges related to the runaway and homeless youth crisis; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council, gathered here on this 8th day of November, 2017, do hereby recognize November as National Runaway Awareness Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to National Runaway Switchboard.
Scott Waguespack Alderman, 32nd ward
Joe Moreno Alderman, 1st Ward
Anthony Beale Alderman, 9th Ward
Brian Hopkins Alderman, 2nd Ward
Susan Sadlowski Garza Alderman, 10th Ward
Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward
Patrick Thompson Alderman, 11th Ward
Sophia King Alderman, 4th Ward
George A. Cardenas Alderman, 12th Ward
Leslie Hairston Alderman, 5th Ward
Marty Quinn Alderman, 13th Ward
Roderick Sawyer Alderman, 6th Ward
Ed Burke
Alderman, 14th Ward
Gregory Mitchell Alderman, 7th Ward
Raymond Lopez Alderman, 15th Ward
Michelle Harris Alderman, 8th Ward
Toni Foulkes Alderman, 16th Ward
David Moore Alderman, 17th Ward
Chris Taliaferro Alderman, 29th Ward
Derrick Curtis Alderman, 18th Ward
Ariel E. Reboyras Alderman, 30th Ward
Matthew O'Shea Alderman, 19th Ward
Milly Santiago Alderman, 31st Ward
Willie B. Cochran Alderman, 20th Ward
Deborah Mell Alderman, 33rd Ward
Howard Brookins Jr. Alderman, 21st Ward
Carrie Austin Alderman, 34th Ward
Ricardo Munoz Alderman, 22nd Ward
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Alderman, 35th Ward
Michael Zalewski Alderman, 23rd Ward
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward
Michael Scott Jr. Alderman, 24th Ward
Emma Mitts Alderman, 37th Ward
Daniel Solis Alderman, 25th Ward
Nicholas Sposato Alderman, 38th Ward
Roberto Maldonado Alderman, 26th Ward
Margaret Laurino Alderman, 39th Ward
Walter Burnett, Jr. Alderman, 27th Ward
Patrick J. O'Connor Alderman, 40th Ward
Jason Ervin Alderman, 28th Ward
Anthony Napolitano Alderman, 41st Ward
Brendan Reilly Alderman, 42nd Ward
Michele Smith Alderman, 43rd Ward
Thomas M. Tunney Alderman, 44th Ward
John Arena : Alderman, 45th Ward
James Cappleman Alderman, 46th Ward
Ameya Pawar Alderman, 47th Ward
Harry Osterman Alderman, 48th Ward
Joseph A. Moore Alderman, 49th Ward
Debra Silverstein Alderman, 50th Ward