Running Away

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Menstuff® has compiled information and support for teenage runaways and their parents or legal guardians..

Snippets
For Teachers

• Do you know the difference between normal adolescent rebellion and serious trouble?
• Are you afraid your child might be thinking about running away?
• Why do kids run away?
• Do you know what to do when she does?
• Will you know what to do when he returns home after running away?
• Being the parent of a teenager isn't easy. The National Runaway Switchboard is available 24 hours a day. They're confidential and they're free. They can help. Talk to them 24/7.

Support for Teenagers

• Crisis Intervention
• Getting in Touch While On the Run
• Information & Referrals
• Going Home
• Questions to ask yourself before you run away
• Family Communication Tips

Support for Parents

• Crisis Intervention
• Message Service
• Information & Referrals
• Searching for Runaways
• Family Communication Tips

Related Issues: Talking With Kids About Tough Issues, Teen Suicide, Teen Health, Teen Sex, Children, Adolescence
Links to Regional Resources
Emergency Teen Resources
Emergency Resources

Snippets

• Every day, between 1.3 and 2.8 million runaway and homeless youth live on the streets of America.
• One out of seven children will run away before 18
• A runaway youth is a person under 18 who absents themselves from home or place of legal residence without the permission of parents or legal guardians.
• A homeless youth is a person under 18 who is in need of services and without a place of shelter where they receive supervision and care.
• In 1989, the GAO Report on Homelessness reported 1,300,000 homeless or runaway youth or 2% of all children under 18 in the US. 21% were classified as homeless, 79% were runaways.
• Teenage males represent 55% of homeless youth and only 35% of runaways.
• Teenage females represent 65% of runaways and only 45% of homeless youth.
• 56% of homeless and 66% of runaways come from two parent households. 36% homeless and 31% runaway come from one parent households.
• Whites represent 81% of youth in the US but only 56% of homeless and 66% of runaway youth.
• Blacks represent 23% of total youth in the US and represent 36% of homeless and 31% of runaways.
• The remaining 3% of youth represent 8% of homeless and 3% of runaways
• 74% of teenage runaways are girls
• 86% of teenage runaways are between 14-17. However, 3% are under 10 and the remainder are in the 11-13 age-group (11%).
• 64% of teenage calls come from runaways. 22% from youth in crisis, 10% from those considering running away, 3% throwaways and 1% homeless.
• The major issues are Family Dynamics (47%), Peer/Social (15%, Abuse (8%), School (8%), Youth Services 7%, Home Free 6%, Alcohol/Drug Abuse (5%), Mental Health (5), Judicial System (3%) and Sexuality (1%),
• The length of time youth was on the run at time of call to NRS:  39% within 3 days; 22% from 4-7 days; 15% from 1-4 weeks, 19% from 1-6 months, and 5% over 6 months.
• 35% of all runaway youths had run before.
• Nationally, 40% of all runaway youth cross state lines.

• You cannot meet the crisis of today tomorrow. - Saul Alinsky
  

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