European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                America s new runaway pro amt lacing the youth tittering a int Way Center today an much More Complex than us they appeared la Baa Tew y tars ago by Donna Cassata associated press runaways in the 19803 in the Unildo states Bear Little resemblance to their 1d60s counterparts who trekked Cross country with a sense of adventure to Summers of love and Days of rage on College campuses. Mora than halt of today s runaways Are victims of sexual or physical abuse in most cases by a Parent. Others Are known As America s throwaways living on Tho streets because they be have been kicked out of the House. And Stilt others have left because it was impossible to adjust when parents remarried their families relocated or High school became too overwhelming. It s not self exploration any More says Delia Hughes the recently elected chairman of the National network of runaway and youth services inc. It s  the new runaway bearing More Complex  Sears has forced Many of the youth counselling and service agencies to rethink Feii approach As they try to help More than 1 million troubled kids. These arc youths who have been part of Tho Public welfare system said Hughes they have a kind of history thai makes in much More difficult to work with them they be been moved irom Osier Homes thai could not handle those kids. Their sell image is of repeated failures and this has been reinforced by the system we have in get through and reverse that sell perception " the 14-year-old Washington  based network helped to educate its approximately 1,000 Alli liaised and direct member agencies on the Cna qing runaway Al a five Day symposium in february that included workshops and round table discussions. The problems lacing Tho youth entering a runaway Center today arc much Moro Complex than what they appeared to be a Lew Yeara ago James m Walker outgoing chairman Al the network told a congressional panel. Thriller stall must be much More sophisticated and better trained to be Able to adequately Cope with these Young  Walker testified Blore the House subcommittee on human resources in the network s first step toward securing Reaulo Nealion Al the juvenile Justice and delinquency prevention act participants at Tho symposium also lobbied members of Congress to Vole Lor Reaulo Nealion of she act which includes the runaway and homeless youth act. Passed in 1974, the Law goes out of existence sept. 30 unless Congress acts Walker said agencies which reach out to More and More youths each year Are finding a significant increase in victims of sexual or physical abuse. A1997 Survey by the network found that 61 percent of the youngsters had been abused including 51 percent by a Parent the total of 61 percent far exceeds our 1985 Survey which indicated a rate of approximately in percent Walker said adding thai part of the increase May result irom Beller identification procedures at runaway shelters. Hughes who also has lobbied on Capitol Hill said the network found a tremendous amount Al support for reauthorization of the acl and remains hopeful that the Footh Congress will act before time rum out. Hughes 38, holds both a masters in divinity from Vanderbilt University and a masters in social work from the University of Tennessee. She began her counselling career 13 years ago at a drug treatment Center in Nashville. The experience proved frustrating i determined Hal there had to be ways to work with kids before they Gol so involved in sell destruction said Huq hcs. Five years later she joined the Oasis Center which provides Foster care and shelter Lor runaways. There she helped a Young woman who had been sexually abused for 10 years recover and eventually enter College. When you so someone really take hold of their Lile. In s world any headache any  she Sard using comedy to reach teens by John a eighty United press International my Young girl in san Lala ii Ca when  under what conditions it might to no jul of have son. Shyly replied won. Fisl inc House should be dark " a h or school senior cd Haw he sold drugs  stolen bicycle parts at age 10, eventually losing a 1 dial of his family and irions 1 to twirl in straighten Mysell out and Gol better grades he said i Don l want to be a bum All my life oni  5 Asci Lescell problems slammed irom what is Ollyn  As Tho typical Marin county. Calif. Hoi tub or i Lyle permissiveness i be always had total try Miriom Loo much Freedom she said i  Iii i Canel nobody cares. In my Home there s so much Ziec Dom 1 Don t think i be learn cart How to Deal with  life Tho poignant comments from teenagers on issues ranging or pm communicating Wilh parents to coping with pros Urei and on drugs Friendship sex and values Are Betner a Irwi oui m High schools across the eur try in Tain v.ih-, up comedian Michael Pritchard whose comic material  of his Long experience As a n of incr in St. Louis arid san f Francisco. Pritchard to is visiting 22 High schools Over the Rel to months 15 a curly haired hulking presence who in is stand up routines of his own childhood and Tiuli lilo lot laughter and i rust from the students he 3150 Fin i a Tot of Lunny comments irom Ihrl teens or whiny up a his acts Qwin Minugh boy he said when asked Why he shopped Al a certain supermarket replied. Because. They  Lousy   tells Iho students he grew up in Dellwood. Mou i past resume Speed. " his brother was nicknamed Nars not a rocket scientist to was convinced cheetos were donuts seeds. When asked where he banked he replied Piggy " on a serious note pilchard reminds teenagers they have the Power to make choices in their lives that can either be Good or Rotten he exhorts them to examine their values and beliefs in the probation department. Pritchard said he asked one offender Why he did t regret knocking Down an old lady just to steal 80 cents irom her purse eighty cents Here. 80 cents there it All adds up dude the youth replied said pilchard adding his was a Rotten Choice " Pritchard said the goal of the series is to help empower kids to make choices for themselves at tells forget How hard it is to grow  two pertinent things he s discovered so far. Pritchard said is that most kids and their parents need to spend More Lime Wilh each Cher and parents also need to know when to let go he said. I be met a lot of lonely kids who need love and need someone in Thair lives said Pritchard. And there s another commonality they need people to listen to what they re saying " his interaction with students said pilchard. Is designed to build a foundation Plant seeds in i hair minds that will empower them to make choices and develop enough sell esteem to make Good decisions pilchard said a was telling youngsters How Ona Survey showed that kids spend 7vi hours watching television to every three minutes spent interacting with adults. To which one boy replied no if we could Only get rid of those three  there Are a lot of funny  said Pitchard. Adding that inc hardest part of his High school Lour is being away from his two Young sons and baby daughter irom whom he has Alsoe granted comedy material. Once he told his son you be got your shoes on the wrong Leet to which the boy replied. But dad. These Are the Only icel i Vegol Little kids Are so innocent they really enjoy their lives they Don l worry  said Pritchard. Later he said some of them grow up and become yuppies which Means yes. Under peer pressure 1 eat  you Don t Slop laughing because you get  pilchard ills inc students. You gel old because you atop laughing Lile is like changing a baby diaper. It does t change things permanently in just makes everything Okay Lor  Pritchard likes to Tell Tho teenagers to practice being vips showing vision incl alive and perspective you re All raising your parents. You ready Are says Pritchard so remember to do the right things to make the right choices " Sharloe Mannheimer an educational resource specialist in Northern California said she was working independently to have the Power Al Choice programs used in schools and by Iho health profession i think it s wonderful Hal he s added the element of comedy to reach Young people. When Young people speak to Young people about their problems it s much More effective especially when you have a Facilitator like Michael pilchard he enables Young people to come to terms Wilh choir own value systems and perhaps make some  Pritchard said communication understanding and love Are the key elements in understanding and working with youngsters. He adds i d like to sit Down and talk to their parents. Loo."1 if Mere s a message it s that the vast majority of students Are Good kids who need More time with adults to help define their value systems. We need to talk to our kids to Tell them How great they arc. I look at the Light in their eyes and i can Soe How great a shape our country is in 1 realty mean  Page 16 the stars and stripes Friday. February 26,1988