UCAN’s Teen Report Card 2007

Adults received a disappointing report card from the nation’s youth this week, as results from the ninth annual UCAN Teen Report Card, co-sponsored by the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), gave the worst grade distributed in the survey, a ‘C-’, to adults and their understanding of why teens leave home.

The UCAN Teen Report Card annually reaches more than 1,000 American teens, ages 12 to 19,asking youth to give an “A” through “F” grade to the adults in their lives.  The study evaluates the day-to-day performance of adults in important areas like honesty, leadership and listening, and provides an outlet for teens to turn the tables and pass grades on the individuals who are traditionally grading them.   High school students, including; NRS front line team members: Charlotte Bayer and Rebecca Landman spoke passionately about adults’ performances during the school year.  View Teen Report Card

                                                                   Charlotte Bayer, NRS Volunteer                                                                           speaks at the UCAN Press Release

NRS promotes the results of the Teen Report Card and encourages utilization of its accompanying study guide to help create a forum for open dialog between youth and their parents and youth and other adults.  Because of NRS' involvement, questions related to adults understanding why teens leave home and how adults are doing in stopping teens from running away have been included in the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 report cards.

Press conferences were held in Chicago, Washington DC and in California on June 13th to release the 2007 Teen Report Card results.

Below: UCAN Teen Report Card with NRS Crisis LIne Members Rebecca Landman, Charlotte Bayer, NRS Board Member, Ernie Toth, and NRS Executive Director, Maureen Blaha (l to r).