"TURN PURPLE CAMPAIGN" Vigilant Against Child Abuse

The TURN PURPLE CAMPAIGN is working to prevent youth homelessness by raising awareness, uniting youth organizations, increasing advocacy, and heightening prevention efforts:

National awareness is being raised by literally turning the face of the nation purple in April 2006 to bring attention to the cause of children living on the streets - child abuse;

A coalition of youth oriented organizations is being built to stand vigilant in recognizing the signs of children in distress and provide them with resources;

A petition is being circulated to collect a million signatures of American's who recognize the problem of child abuse as a precursor to youth homelessness and seek to advocate for their needs;

We are looking to impact the number of children who are running away by placing a Don't Runaway Card in the hands of 60,000+ students and provide them with our effective deterrence program.

The TURN PURPLE CAMPAIGN is a multi-tiered initiative driven to provide immediate assistance to children in need through a safe net-work of youth organizations, decrease the numbers of runaways, create a base of constituents who are looking to advocate for abused children, and heighten awareness that at-risk, homeless, and street kids are not "rebels without a cause" but survivors of abuse.

Ultimately the TURN PURPLE CAMPAIGN seeks to create a permanent systems change that reforms the way at-risk, homeless, and street youth are viewed and serviced in America.

Fact: A CASE OF CHILD ABUSE IS REPORTED EVERY 10 SECONDS!

Fact: 1 CHILD RUNS AWAY EVERY MINUTE OF EVERYDAY!Fact: 13 CHILDREN DIE ON THE STREETS EVERYDAY!

Homelessness among youth is on the rise. Children make up 27 percent -- the fastest growing segment -- of the U.S. homeless population. Despite the obvious chance of danger children would rather run to the streets for safety than deal with the certainty of what awaits them at home, in foster care, or shelters. Independent studies report that once on the street.

42% become involved in prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home to survive

62% of youth on the streets attempt suicide at least once

13 runaway youth will die on the streets every day from assaults, illness or suicide - totaling 5,000+ runaway deaths each year

36% of the runaways have been on the streets more than three years

Due to age runaways are left with four basic ways of survival: begging, stealing, selling drugs, and survival sex (prostitution). Survival sex/ promiscuity frequently leads to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Many runaways suffer from severe anxiety, depression, and hypervigalanceKids who live on the streets do not have a safe place to sleep, don't eat often and are sick most of the time.

Due to poor self-esteem, confidence issues, and no coping mechanisms drug/alcohol use and abuse becomes a means to cope and survive. Homeless youth face difficulties attending school because of legal guardianship requirements and proper records, and lack of transportation.

Only a small percentage of homeless children and street youth will ever enroll in a shelter or social service agency for help because of fear of identification, legal entanglement, victimization, or being taken advantage of by self-serving organizations.

Get Involved!!! Become a regional TURN PURPLE CAMPAIGN coordinator or volunteer.Help coordinate the turning purple of your community, purple events, and the circulation of the million American petition against child abuse and youth homelessness. In case you missed the link at the beginning of this story, here is the "Turn Purple" petition: http://www.turnpurple.org/petitionapplication.asp

Please, Please, Please sign and remember to turn our nation "PURPLE" for the entire month of APRIL, 2006!!!

Start with your community! You can also donate by purchasing purple Rubber Awareness Bracelts, keychains and/or mousepads. The price of each is only $6.00!

LifeLinks:
Turn Purple Campaign
Don't Run Away
Stand Up For Kids