Paul Burstow (right), Member of UK Parliament, listens in as Kim Devin-Meltzer, a National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) front line team member, handles a call with a runaway youth at the organization’s national headquarters in Chicago, Ill. Burstow, along with representatives from the UK’s The Children’s Society, visited NRS on March 20 to further learn about the United State’s systematic approach to helping America’s youth remain safe and off the streets.

A delegation from the United Kingdom visited the National Runaway Switchboard in March to further learn about the United State’s systematic approach to helping youth remain safe and off the streets.

Paul Burstow, a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, representatives from the UK’s The Children’s Society, two officers representing the UK’s law enforcement sector, and a former runaway youth were among the eight-member delegation.

The UK party was on a fact-finding visit as part of The Children’s Society’s national Safe & Sound campaign to help runaway children in England. The meeting served as an opportunity for the delegation to tap into NRS’ 35 years of experience in helping runaway and homeless youth.

The visit to NRS included a tour of its call center, which handles more than 100,000 calls annually with runaway and at-risk youth and their families, a youth panel discussion with teen call center volunteers, and a question and answer session among the group of UK visitors and representatives from NRS.

In addition to meeting with NRS, the delegation’s three-day visit also included meetings with representatives from the Family Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an evening reception hosted by LaSalle Bank and attended by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and dinner hosted by Catch 35 restaurant in Chicago.

At the UK delegation reception hosted by LaSalle Bank, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) listens to Kelly Mead, NRS board member, explain the NRS mission and how the call center handles more than 100,000 calls annually.

Maureen Blaha (left), NRS executive director, and Deborah Yatsko, NRS grant officer, Family Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NRS Executive Director, Maureen Blaha, (left) explains to MP Paul Burstow (right) and UK delegation members about NRS’ approach to helping to keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.