“Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.”
                                                                  - Annie Sullivan

Many of America’s misguided youths are on the streets, without a place to call home, lacking sympathy and love from their parents. Those who are unaware of the nature of homelessness believe America’s homeless youths are runaways with options: Why don’t they just return home? Situations could not have been that awful? And even so, they can always find a loving home within foster care, right?

Yet, many of America’s runaway youths often face neglect and endure sexual and physical abuse at home. Furthermore, not all teens run away, as some are thrown  out of their parents' home, much like the teenage girl who has discovered she is pregnant, unexpectedly. As a result, many youths find themselves placed in an unjust system such as foster care, where they are labeled as “unadoptable” and “age out” of a system, which eventually forces youths out with little or no government assistance and most importantly, without a component they thought they would finally have: a loving, permanent home. As if these youths have not already felt unwanted, they are made to feel like rejects by a system, which is supposed to help.

Substance abuse, limited education, survival sex, and other dangerous lifestyle forms define what many homeless or street youths face. Yet, the stark reality of homeless youths can be altered if everyone can join forces to affect change, at least this is what the major campaign, Do 1 Thing, states.

On Saturday, February 14, 2009, Valentine’s Day,  award-winning writers and editors, journalists, and photographers and videographers will join forces with Covenant House, along with several other national organizations, to raise awareness on homeless youths in America. The Do 1 Thing campaign is a one-day initiative where every individual in the nation is encouraged to do one simple thing to ignite a major change on behalf of homeless youths in America.

The campaign is spearheaded by Najlah Feanny Hicks, a freelance photojournalist, who has created several major campaigns to help some of America’s most vulnerable youths. After reading a 2005 Parade Magazine feature story of a woman in New Mexico, who launched a photographic campaign to capture the devastating lives of foster children, hoping it would help find permanent homes with adoptive families, Hicks felt compelled to start a similar effort in New Jersey.

Within a span of five months, Hicks recruited over 100 of the most recognized photographers within the New York metropolitan area. These photographers captured the spirit of more than 350 New Jersey foster children who were labeled “unadoptable,” and were therefore, doomed as subjects within a biased system; and, launched a major exhibit of 300 photographs of these foster children at a venue the Governor of New Jersey attended.  Over three short years, Hicks’ effort was responsible for more than 160 of the involved children being adopted. However, Hicks did not stop here: after the 2005 exhibit, she started another exhibit in 2008 called, “100 waiting children”.

Hicks, being a foster parent herself, expresses great discontent with the state of foster care, as many youths are denied a loving, permanent home. These children often become homeless, as they receive either no or little assistance from the state.

According to the Do 1 Thing Web site, 25,000 children "age out" of the foster care system nationwide. Of those, roughly 6,000 end up homeless. Many Americans see media images of children in underdeveloped nations who face homelessness and starvation, but in a nation known for being the richest and most plentiful in resources, 1.35 million youths experience homelessness, annually. Nevertheless, Hicks believes if one person "did 1 thing" on one day-- amounting to thousands of persons acting in kindness when concerning homeless youths-- a major change would emerge. Hence, in Fall 2008, Hicks asked Pim Van Hemmen, a former photographer, and newspaper editor with whom she founded The Heart Gallery of New Jersey in 2005, to help her implement the Do 1 Thing campaign for homeless youths.

The partnership with Covenant House Washington

Intrigued by this creative movement to affect change on behalf of homeless youths, I interviewed Jocelyn Harris, director of communications at Covenant House Washington (CHW). Harris agrees CHW's partnership with the Do 1 Thing campaign is a “unique opportunity” to raise awareness about youth homelessness nationwide, particularly because people will be able to better assess the day-to-day struggles homeless youths face.

“Through teaming up with nationally and internationally renowned photographers and videographers, people will be able to put a face on homeless youths and understand the youth crisis concerning homelessness,” Harris said.

There are so many struggles homeless youths face and there are several risk factors resulting in youth homelessness. “Covenant House Washington has identified several risk factors: high school dropouts, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment, and mental health issues,” Harris said.

However, Harris argues these factors are closely linked to one overlapping theme many homeless youths faced at one time or another: abusive home situations. Yet, Harris indicates many youths undergoing CHW programs are dedicated to changing, as they want to break the cycle of homelessness and have stable lives.

“The majority of youth seeking CHW services are seeking employment and educational services,” Harris said.

As a means to help combat their demons, many homeless youths seek counseling services.  CHW's counseling services not only teach homeless youths how to re-channel their negative feelings and frustrations, but also equip them with necessary tools to survive in society, once leaving CHW.

“Through our education component, youth are taught about budgeting, getting and maintaining a job, maintaining a household, and developing and maintaining positive relationships,” Harris said.

CHW also offers a variety of programs for homeless youths, including its Residential, Education and Workforce Development, and Artisans Woodworking programs. These are core programs that help youths gain stability and the resources needed to survive in society-- because without the proper education, chances to receive a well-paying job to sustain self and family are lessened.

Additionally, CHW understands for those homeless youths with children, the cycle of homelessness must be broken, as CHW offers two prevention service programs, targeting youths ages 11-17. With its initiative to end the cycle of homelessness for youths, CHW has programs for teen mothers and youths of childbearing ages with no children, ages 16-24, who are either homeless or marginally housed.

Currently, CHW houses 77 youths and serve 250 youths in its day programs. When concerning its prevention services program, 200 youths per year undergo this program.

Even though Do 1 Thing and CHW would like for individuals to "do 1 thing" to help homeless youths on Valentine’s Day, the hope is that individuals will continue to volunteer their time on a regular basis to help America’s youths. Even during these difficult times, individuals can contribute something to help homeless youths.  Even something as small as donating a blanket or a can of food can have a meaningful impact, if everyone has the same idea and acts on it.

“It’s the repetition and consistency of the act that makes meaningful change,” Harris said.

As President Obama has said repeatedly: many Americans must accept accountability to affect change in the world. On Valentine’s Day, many people will go out of their way to spend tons of money not in their budgets to buy elaborate gifts the receiver may not possibly need— why not spend your money on a youth who desperately needs it, instead? As Hicks said, if everyone joins together on one day for one cause, a major change can emerge. It happened with Americans voting for our first black President; why not try it again for America’s youths?