Hope Squad National Conference

NSPN staff Michelle Hurley and Autumn Sandlin presented “Safe Place: Someplace to go. Someone to help.” at the first virtual Hope Squad Annual Conference on October 28th. The presentation provided an overview of Safe Place and TXT 4 Help, as well as how youth can identify the warning signs of familial violence. Hope Squad is a student-led suicide initiative that trains students, nominated by their peers, on peer-to-peer prevention, intervention, and postvention. For more information about Hope Squad, visit www.hopesquad.com.

Addressing Rural Youth Homelessness

Chapin Hall and National Network for Youth (NN4Y) have released a report exploring the challenges rural youth experiencing homelessness face and ways to strengthen the response to these needs. The report explores and makes recommendations for identifying youth, services and support, equity and inclusion, and collaboration. Access the report here.

Developing a Direct Cash Transfer Program for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Chapin Hall, in collaboration with Point Source Youth, has released a new report that explores effective ways to develop and execute a direct cash transfer program (DCTP) as a tool to help youth experiencing homelessness. According to the report, DCTP’s are most effective when they center on youth, equity, and trust; boost housing stability and employment; adopt a flexible and simple approach, and identify and manage barriers to success. To read more, access the report here.

National Runaway Prevention Month 2020

November is National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM). Spearheaded each year by the National Runaway Safeline, NRPM is an awareness and prevention campaign that began in October 2002 when President George W. Bush’s hosted the landmark White House Conference on Exploited and Runaway Children where leaders from across the country convened to discuss challenges related to runaway youth that our nation must face today.

Support NRPM through the following national events:

• Facebook Profile Picture – November 1
• Education Week – November 2 – 6
• Twitter Chat and Resource Day – November 5at 3 PM ET
• Wear Green Day – November 10
• Light the Night Community Events – November 17
• Prevention Roundtable – November 23
• Youth Roundtable – November 30

For more information on NRPM, and to sign-up to become an NRPM partner, visit www.1800runaway.org.

Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. All month, NSPN will be sharing resources on social media and NSPNsights, to raise awareness about bullying prevention and highlight the ways in which we work to create a world where all youth are safe. Additionally, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, which created National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006, has resources for youth and adults on bullying prevention.