Park Place Outreach Inc. along with the National Runaway Switchboard are trying to increase awareness about the benefits of this special month: to raise awareness of the issues facing runaway youth; and to educate the public about solutions and the role they can play in preventing youth from running away.
According to the National Runaway Switchboard, when a youth runs away, the impact is felt throughout the entire community. That’s why Park Place is encouraging everyone to participate in National Runaway Prevention Month.
The theme for NRPM 2008 is Let’s Talk. This year’s theme was chosen in support of the National Runaway Switchboard’s second year of implementing its new program, Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum, which provides easy to use lessons on various topics as well as interactive, youth approved activities.
Let’s Talk is a 14-module curriculum intended to build life skills; increase knowledge about runaway resources and prevention; and educate about alternatives to running away. Included in this e-mail you will find a link to a catalogue and order form for free promotional materials (http://www.1800runaway.org/pub_mat/promo.html) available from the National Runaway Switchboard, as well as a the downloadable Home Free Poster(http://www.1800runaway.org/downloads/pdfs/Runaway_poster_07.pdf) and the Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum. (http://www.1800runaway.org/rpc/index.htm)
Park Place provides emergency shelter and street outreach for adolescents ages 11 through 17 and their families. It is the only agency located within Chatham County that serves youth at no charge who are accepted without a referral to receive help. Park Place opened in 1984. There are approximately 15-30 youth residents served each month.
For more information on Park Place, call (912) 234-4048.
www.parkplaceyes.org