Thrownaways Rights

The Covenant House is a national organization founded in 1972, whose mission is to help homeless youth escape the streets. The Covenant House has locations scattered across America where they offer a wide range of services and outreach programs.

“Homeless kids have rights. They have the right to a home ... the right to food ... the right to guidance and an education … the right to be free from sexual, emotional, or physical abuse ... and the right to be free from exploitation. These kids have the right to be safe and – most important – to be loved.”

Strategic plans

• Programs require more intentional reinforcement of connections to key adults and assistance to youth in forming new meaningful connections with helpful, positive and pro-social adults. There is a need to create environments in which helpful, positive and prosocial adults can be encouraged to offer support to teens and young adults.  
  
  
• Increased community awareness is needed so more communitymembers can provide support to high risk youth in their communities.
  
  
• Development and implementation of methods to use electronic media and social networking to reach youth and provide them with information on where to find support and how to keep in touch with program staff is a critical next step.

Edited and Written by: Karla Romero

Source

• http://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=childrenatrisk
• https://www.covenanthouse.org/homeless-teen-issues/teen-homelessness