Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT (RHYA/FEDERAL) Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act THE NEW JERSEY HOMELESS YOUTH ACT (HYA/NEW JERSEY) The New Jersey Homeless Youth Act focuses on the needs of homeless youth and provides funds for expanding services to this vulnerable population. Youth advocates from throughout New Jersey came together to help craft a law that would give kids in crisis the "right" to seek safety from the streets. The "New Jersey Homeless Youth Act" (NJHYA) emerged and was adopted by the New Jersey legislature then signed into law by Governor Whitman. New Jersey has now become the 21st state to adopt such a law. Mirrored after the federal "Runaway and Homeless Youth Act", the "New Jersey Homeless Youth Act" (NJHYA) provides youth the ability to access shelters (basic centers) without a court order. The law provides $1 million annually and allows for shelters (basic centers), transitional living programs and street outreach programs to be funded. The New York Times: Young and Homeless Lured by Atlantic City's Riches, They End Up in the Underbelly, February 7, 1999 NJ Homeless Youth Act - FINAL RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH PUBLISHED REPORTS Bridges to Independence, The Garden State Coalition for Youth and Family Concerns, 2001 Many Faces, No Voice, The Garden State Coalition for Youth and Family Concerns, 1995 The 1998 National Symposium on Homelessness Research-Homeless Youth: Research, Intervention and Policy POLICY AND SERVICES LINKS National Network for Youth National Runaway Switchboard National Center for Missing and Exploited Children National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY) Empire State Coalition for Youth and Families Mid-Atlantic Network of Youth and Family Services (MANY) New England Network for Child, Youth and Family Services National Resource Center for Youth Services National Safe Place Program National Youth Development Information Center Association for Children of New Jersey LICENSED NEW JERSEY YOUTH SHELTER PROGRAMS - 2006 For more information contact us: Richard O'Grady, Execuitve Director <richard.ogrady@njacyf.org> Rebecca Neil, Administrative Assistant <rebecca.neil@njacyf.org> New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families Lexington Square 2125 Route 33 Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 Phone: 609-586-9092 Fax: 609-586-6573 REFERENCE | DIRECTIONS | GOVERNANCE | MEMBERS ONLY (SECURE) | AGING OUT | RHY | HOME