WEB INITIATIVE BENEFITS RUNAWAY, AT-RISK YOUTH

 

National Runaway Switchboard Overhauls www.1800RUNAWAY.org, Launches www.switched-onmag.org, Creates E-game

CHICAGO (May 3, 2006) – The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), the federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth, announced its completion of a web initiative streamlining the way youth, parents, teachers, and law enforcement officials obtain information and resources to help runaway and at-risk youth.

The NRS web initiative includes a more user-friendly and easy-to-navigate www.1800RUNAWAY.org website; the creation of www.switched-onmag.org, a youth-centric website; and the development of Home-base.tv, an e-game to educate youth in conflict resolution, communication and negotiating skills.

“Our number one goal with this web initiative is to reach more runaway and at-risk youth and their families, and to encourage them to call NRS,” said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director.  “NRS is a gateway to receive helpful information and resources.  Whether it’s online or over the phone, NRS is available to those in need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day out of the year.”

With an increasing number of Americans using the internet to obtain information, communicate with family and friends, shop, read news, and play games, NRS recognized the importance to update its online presence.

“More than 200 million Americans are using the internet for an array of activities,” said Blaha.  “We handled more than 102,000 calls on our 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline in 2005, and we believe just as many youth and parents are looking online for information, help, and answers to important questions.  It was essential that we strengthen our online awareness.”

www.1800RUNAWAY.org Overhaul:

The redesign of the NRS website includes a number of new and improved features making it easier for site visitors to locate and download information.  The new site includes links for youth to www.switched-onmag.org and Home-base.tv, it offers bi-weekly Parent Chat sessions (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) for adults to discuss and share solutions to challenges they may be facing with their child, and it includes a message board section where visitors of all ages may post questions and obtain answers from experienced NRS front-line team members.  And there’s a wealth of educational material, research and statistical information, and resources.

Added Blaha, “NRS experienced a record number of more than 6,600 visitors to 1800RUNAWAY.org in April, 91 percent who were first-time visitors.”

www.switched-onmag.org & Home-base.tv:

According to Jim Marcus, an NRS volunteer who has dedicated his creative time toward the development of NRS’ youth website and e-game projects, “These programs help NRS effectively be where young people are, and communicates to youth in their own language and in their own way.  Overall these programs will increase the number of youth who have access to the incredible resources at NRS.”

Marcus continued by saying the youth-centric website and e-game will directly reach youth through online communities such as Myspace, Orkut and Friendster.  NRS will offer games and newsletters, and post banners to help direct youth to www.switched-onmag.org and Home-base.tv.  NRS also plans to use the site as a way to gather information from young people through questions and letters they send, which will ultimately help NRS serve youth more effectively and help give young people access to NRS resources.

The National Runaway Switchboard, established in 1971, serves as the federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth.  Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, has handled more than 3 million calls in its 35-year history and handles an average of 100,000 calls annually.  NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Over 10,000 youth have been reunited with their families through NRS’ Home Free program done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc.  The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY.  For more information, visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org.

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Contact:

Joel Kessel

For the National Runaway Switchboard

(773) 929-6805

jkessel@rcn.com