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This is especially true for children who are identified as “high risk”. Youth aged are at higher risk for homelessness than adults. Local practices surrounding curfew and truancy enforcement may cause police to come into contact with runaways more often on particular days of the week or times of day. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to run away as a minor (under the age of 1. In most states, if your legal guardian reports you as a runaway, you could be taken back home by law enforcement. Private/public restrooms, while not the most comfortable, are good places you can groom yourself. Something like, "I've been traveling with my mom all day to get to my grandparents house and we stopped here to freshen up," might prevent the police from being called on you.
Overbearing parents authoritarian, overprotective, and neglectful styles have led to adolescents running away. Although shelters and other social services may negotiate the juveniles' return, families rarely receive the comprehensive services needed to resolve the issues causing the juveniles to flee in the first place. Some juveniles do not want to return home and avoid contact with services and authority figures so they are not forced to do so. Similarly, some parents blame the juveniles for running away and do not recognize their own contributions to the problem. In these situations, automatic or immediate reunification may place the juveniles at risk of continued harm. These difficulties notwithstanding, there were approximately 1.7 million juvenile runaway episodes in 1999.
As a parent, what can I do to help my child and my family?
Some parents are less affected by their child's departure, believing the juvenile went to a safe location and will return shortly. Parents try to locate the juvenile by calling friends and relatives, searching places the juvenile frequents, or filing a missing persons report with the police. Hi, it's good that you're reaching out for help and planning things through. If you decide you need to run away, it can be good to plan out where you will live and how you will provide for yourself first.
You may also be able to stay with a friend or a relative for free until you figure out where you are going to live permanently. This question is useful especially for teens who are not sure where they will live or how they will survive once they run away from home. Creating an escape plan and taking steps to adjust once you leave the home will help you answer this question. Your escape plan should specify a safe place you can go to and numbers for runaway helplines where you can speak to professionals who can help you survive and thrive outside of the abusive home. Youth shelters provide a safe place for teens to live while dealing with their reasons for running away, and the consequences of their decision to do so. Youth shelters also generally offer runaway teens access to different types of therapy.
How to Understand Your Options as a Runaway
In particular, juveniles run away when the pattern of conflict escalates, the risk of physical harm increases, or family life becomes intolerable. If the CPS worker determines that it is not safe for you to return to the abusive home, they will suggest that you stay with a relative or with someone you feel safe being around. Go to the safe place and do not tell your abusers where you are.
This becomes a challenge because running away is often glamorized by others. So, when they start thinking about it, it seems like a better option than it really is. Aron Janssen, MD is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and is the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry at Northwestern University. They can financially support themselves by legal means.
Juvenile Runaways
If you are a teen who is trying to escape an abusive environment, you may want to reach out to an elder that you trust and can confide in. Share your fears and your decision to leave the home. They may be able to support you in your decision and help you get out of the home.
If your child does run away, you should immediately notify the police and file a missing person’s report. Kessel says it’s important to let your child know that you don’t want him to run away, and you’re committed to helping the family work things out. Even if your child is young, it’s important to address the issue. Unless you're running from an abusive home, in which case you should call the police, leave a note so your parents don't think you've been abducted. If you resort to a runaway shelter, they will contact your parents if they recognize you. It's best to go to a shelter outside your city so no one will recognize you.
This means that the police will be obligated to pick you up and release you back into their custody. It is also possible that if you stay with another adult that they will be in legal trouble for harboring you. That said, if you are still committed to running away, there are a number of other considerations outside of where you are staying or whether you can make it to school. For example, how do you plan on supporting yourself financially once you leave home? What happens when you need money to buy food, new clothes, or school supplies? In these sorts of situations, it's important to consider all the variables that come with a big decision.
It’s important to not assume we know why a child runs, as each situation is different and unique. Runaways have an elevated risk of destructive behavior. Approximately fifty percent of runaways experience difficulties with schooling; including dropping out, expulsion, or suspension.
Let them know that they hurt you and that you were worried. Remind them that you love them and that there isn't a problem that you can't solve together. If they ever feel that running away might solve something, urge them talk to you first. Together, you can come up with choices so they can make a better decision. Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals.
Others do not report runaway episodes because they want to avoid police involvement or because they had a negative experience when reporting a previous runaway episode to police. No, a child cannot go to jail for running away, but in most states there may be some legal consequences for runaways and their parents or guardians, for instance, adults who encourage or hide runaways can be charged with a crime. This could be a trusted relative’s home, a close family member’s home, or a runaway shelter. You can also stay at a hotel for a night or two if you are of age.You should arrange your stay with a relative or family member beforehand. It is not against the law for someone to take you in if they believe you are in danger. But if the adults in the safe place do anything illegal or lie to the authorities about your whereabouts, they can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Given their high levels of intravenous drug use, shared drug paraphernalia, and high-risk sexual behaviors, juveniles on the street are vulnerable to HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, their stressful lives coupled with their troubled backgrounds make them susceptible to suicide, depression, and other mental illnesses. Juveniles living on the street develop survival strategies.
State parks across Kentucky are also establishing emergency warming centers for those who can’t make it to their local shelter. “As temperatures drop rapidly Thursday night, minor accumulations of snow and wet and icy will affect travel,” Beshear said. What’s really worrying the state’s emergency management officials is a rapid change from rain to snow Thursday night. His report also warned of sub-zero wind chills expected across the state. Between Friday and Saturday, those wind chill temperatures could drop as low as minus 10 to minus 25 degrees. Wind chills near or below zero are expected to linger into Sunday, and temperatures won’t warm above freezing until Monday and Tuesday, Beshear said.
Sometimes, young people run away from something harmful happening in the home. The rates of child abuse in the United States are shockingly high and unfortunately not all children have safe homes. But children and teens sometimes run to something they perceive they need, rather than from an unsafe home environment. They may be leaving for a romantic partner promising a new life, the drugs and alcohol they can’t access at home, the chance to have what they perceive as an adventure, or many other reasons.
Understand that in many cases, running away from home is illegal. Wednesday, Beshear told reporters the effect of those efforts will be limited across much of the state because of conditions. Beshear said he’s also asked officials in every county to set up at least one local warming center.
