NCFY Recommends: National Runaway Prevention Month Is an Opportunity to Increase Your Outreach

Each November, National Runaway Prevention Month gives youth workers a platform to educate the public about the issues affecting runaway youth. Here are some links from organizer the National Runaway Switchboard that we think might be particularly useful for youth workers in November and beyond:

• Use the 2012 Reporter’s Source Book on Runaway and Homeless Youth  to provide important background information to the media, or to create your own prevention month press release. The source book includes definitions, trends and tips for prevention.

• Novembers 1 is a Social Media Day of Action, and NRS encourages partners to launch similar campaigns throughout the month using a list of helpful Facebook and Twitter tips. You’ll find us chiming in on NCFY’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

• Download or order promotional materials to distribute to clients or hand out in your community:  a brochure for youth, in English (PDF, 1.9MB) and Spanish (PDF, 1.9MB), and a guide for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, in English (PDF 4.7MB) and Spanish (PDF, 2.9MB).

• NRS’s Let’s Talk Runaway Prevention Curriculum was recently found to improve young people’s ability to deal with challenging life situations and overcome obstacles in a healthy way. A number of youth-serving organizations use the curriculum in their efforts to keep youth from running away.

• Once November is over, agencies can enter the NRPM Community Contest to share how their events increased public awareness. Those thinking ahead to next year can also get inspiration from reading about past winners. And check out our Q&A with NRS staffer Lashawnda Carter for pointers on what makes for a winning National Runaway Prevention Month campaign.