Why Do Kids Runaway? Articles, Studies & Prevention

Why Do Kids Runaway? Articles, Studies & Prevention
*** We post alot of runaways on this Forum. Some of them we have posted more than once. Lately the question has been running through my head.....Why do kids runaway? So I did some research. If anyone finds anything I havent, please feel free to post it. Maybe someday this mystery will be answered and the word 'runaway' will be a thing of the past. We can only try.*** RUN AWAY SYNDROME Dr. Krishna Prasad Sreedhar This is a symptom seen in children when they are under some form of conflict which Psychologists call STRESS. This occurs predominantly in male children. This involves sudden or preplanned running away from one's own home to the house of a relative or a of friend or to some distant place the child has once visited, or to a place which is totally unknown to the child. Having reached the place or on his way, the child realises that he cannot sustain for long without the emotional and economic support of the parents. At that point, the child decides to return and tries to come back home or would let the parents inform his hideout. The disappearance usually does not prolong for more than a week. When the child returns, he is most likely to appear shy, guilt ridden, submissive and silent. At that point those who receive the child back should not find fault with him nor scold or punish him as the child expects the worst. Slowly some one in the family with whom the child has good emotional link could start exploring the reasons for the running away. Such a child is best eased back into the main stream of the day to day family life with pieces of advice that it is not healthy to run away and that he should muster courage to face situations of stress. A close relative without any tint of black mailing may meaningfully counsel one-time runners. However, habitual runners need counselling or psychotherapy from a psychologist. Why Do Children Run Away? All children are basically insecure, as they are emotionally immature. This immaturity is part of the growing process. Each day they become more and more secure if the family is a close knit one with enough freedom for communication and emotional expression. Thus children run away because of the following reasons: Constant quarrels of parents, causing severe insecurity in the child. If they feel unloved. Sibling rivalry or arrival of a new child. Fear of physical danger like the father beating them for a certain wrongdoing. Fear that there will be withdrawal of emotional support for wrong doings. Failure or decline in the examination or test paper. If prone to impulsiveness. To accompany a friend in distress. REMEDIAL MEASURES First and foremost understand that children are immature and impulsive. On return do not accuse or punish the child. A person who has good rapport with the child can slowly open up the issue and allow the child to give vent to his emotions and guilt feelings. Assure the child that he was not wrong but his action was unbecoming of a brave child. Tell the child that every body has periods of insecurity and uncertainty and that squarely facing the situation alone would solve the problem. Make the child understand that his was an action of escapism and that it is unhealthy. Train the child for healthy coping of similar situations. If the above fail, seek the help of a counselor or Psychologist. *** http://www.psychology4all.com/runaway.htm

Preventing Runaways How to Keep Your Teen From Becoming One of the Thousands That Run Away Each Year By Carma Haley Shoemaker By the end of this year, about 275,000 teens will have "run away" from home, according to the National Organization of Missing and Exploited Children. Thirty to 40 percent of these teens will become involved in some kind of "trouble" -- they will be mugged, robbed, beaten, molested, raped or even killed. Some return to their homes; others do not. So what can parents do to prevent their teens from joining the number of those that never return? Better yet, how can parents prevent their teen from running away in the first place? They can start by studying the reasons why kids choose to leave. Why Kids Leave The reasons behind a teenager’s choice to leave home can often be serious. A 1998 study of teen runaways found that the majority left home because of perceived physical or emotional abuse, says Dr. Paul Coleman, author of How to Say It to Your Kids. "These adolescents reported that running away was a last resort – not merely a bold attempt to annoy their parents – and many wanted an opportunity to reconcile with their families," Dr. Coleman says. While some teens leave home for problems such as emotional, mental or physical abuse, others may have reasons that, to adults, may seem less "serious" but which hold just as much bearing on a teen’s decision to leave. "Secondary reasons include the inability to communicate with a parent or frequent arguments or confrontations with a stepparent, a chaotic household or to accompany a friend who is running away from home," Dr. Coleman says. Confrontations with her fiancé had Carrie Eichler’s son considering leaving home. "When my first husband and I divorced, I thought that my son accepted it pretty well," says Eichler, a nurse from Ashland, Ohio. "It wasn't until I began living with my fiancé that I understood that he didn't. didn't get along with my fiancé, and they argued a lot. He threatened to run away several times, and each time I had to be in the middle. "I tried to explain to my son that I understood what he was feeling, and soon after he would let go of his idea to leave. I guess I'm lucky that I'm no longer in the relationship, otherwise I'm sure he really would have run away." Running From Problems As adults, we have learned to face whatever problems are before us and meet them head on in an attempt to solve them. However, teens may not have that skill and may feel overwhelmed, scared or confused. "Running away is an attempt at resolving or escaping from some problem," Dr. Coleman says. "Finding out what that problem is offers the first and most important step in preventing a teen from leaving home by running away." Teens may use running away as a means of getting attention, resolving an argument or even as an attempt to make their parents feel guilty or scared. Yet, too often parents take light of what their teen states regarding running away. "If your child is threatening to run away, take time to consider what the underlying problem might be," Dr. Coleman says. "If your teen threatens to run away, don't be intimidated. Let him know that you’ll call the police and speak to each and every one of his friends’ parents in order to find him. Let him know that you will do whatever you have to do to get him back – no matter where he goes." Laura Hess’ son was only 11 the first time he threatened to run away from home. "He would threaten to pack his bags and leave knowing that it made me upset, and I would try to talk him out of it," says this mother of four from Minneapolis, Minn. "Each time, I would end up giving in to whatever it was that started the argument or offer some type of compromise. I know I need to be stronger and more firm with him but the thought of my son being out there – anywhere – on his own, scares me." What You Don’t Do What you don't do in trying to prevent a teen from running away is almost as important as what you should do. As teens have usually already made up their minds regarding what they feel they must do, the next steps taken can often be critical. "Telling your teen to go ahead and run away because you know they will be back or telling them that their reason for wanting to run away is not a very good one are two things you do not want to do," Dr. Coleman says. "As there are too many dangers in today's society to take a chance that a teen may not make it back home makes the theory of reverse psychology very risky." If you tell your child that their reason for wanting to run away is not valid, you’re missing the point. "Your child evidently thought it was a good reason," Dr. Coleman says. "It is better to listen to your child's concerns and take appropriate steps to solve those concerns. In addition, personal attacks on your child's character – stating that they will never amount to anything if they think they can just run away from their problems – will add to his/her resentment. Criticize the behavior, not the whole being of the person." Warn of the Dangers Explain the dangers of running away. Although most teens will come home after a short period of time on their own, there are some that do not – or cannot. "Use news reports of runaway children as an opportunity to teach ahead of time how serious and dangerous running away from home is," Dr. Coleman says. "Don't worry that you might give your child ideas he otherwise wouldn't have – you won't." Share how you feel about running away, he says. Use statements such as: "Most kids don’t run away from home, but when they do, it is often because there is a serious problem at home, and the child does not believe he can talk things over with a parent. I want you to understand you can always talk to me. And I want you to understand that running away is very dangerous." When a teen threatens to run away it may not be in spite, in anger or in retaliation – it may just be the only solution the teen can find for an undisclosed problem. Talking about the reasons why a teen may want to leave the security of their home may offer insight into how to keep them there – safe and sound. "If your child does bring up the concern, take it seriously and empathize when appropriate," Dr. Coleman says. "Knowing the underlying cause of the situation leading up to the want to run away from home can help a parent prevent it from happening." Want to see more? Are You Listening to Me? Cutting the Cord When Teens Make the Wrong Choices Teenagers Today MomsTalk http://teenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/runaway.htm

Keeping America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Call 1-800-RUNAWAY National Runaway Switchboard 3080 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 Phone: (773) 880-9860 Fax: (773) 929-5150 Who is NRS? We are the federally-designated national communication system (hotline and website) for runaway and homeless youth. Kids and family members – parents, siblings, other relatives – call at all times to work through problems and to find local help – agencies, organizations. Some callers just need someone to talk to, others need help finding a shelter, food, medical assistance, or counseling. Some callers are on the streets, others are struggling with other issues and we work with them to identify options to prevent them from leaving their home, when possible and if appropriate. What is the mission of NRS? The National Runaway Switchboard's mission is to keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Who makes up NRS? We have the equivalent of 18 paid staff members, 18 board members, and more than 150 volunteers. Who uses NRS? Youth who are on the streets as runaways, throwaways, or homeless; youth who are thinking about running away or are in crisis; parents whose child has run from home; parents who are struggling with their child; and other adults concerned who work with children such as teachers, law enforcement personnel, agency staff, and siblings and other relatives. What services does NRS provide? Crisis Intervention Message Relay Conference Calling Home Free (in partnership with Greyhound Lines, Inc.) Prevention/Education/Outreach Website – www.1800RUNAWAY.org Information and Referral Does NRS find kids? No. Our main concern is the safety and health of our callers. If parents call asking for help in finding their kids, we can refer them to local police departments and national organizations such as National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for additional support. How many kids run away each year? The most comprehensive study done in 1989 by the Government Accounting Office indicates 1.3 million kids are on the street each year. The Children’s Defense Fund cites approximately 1,200 youth run away each day. An estimated 2.8 million youth living in the United States reported a runaway experience during the prior year (Research Triangle Institute 1995). What kind of statistics does NRS gather? Although our services are anonymous and confidential we ask callers for age, gender, status at the time of call, means of survival, time on the street, whereabouts of youth, and how the caller heard about us. In addition, we identify problems and discuss options available based on the callers’ comfort level and area resources. However, callers disclose only as much information as they wish. We also collect statistics on the number of calls received from each state, and can provide regional statistics on the issue. Is there a typical runaway? No. Kids from every socio-economic area run away from home. One in every seven will run away at least once before the age of 18 – in a classroom of 35 kids, 5 will run away at least once. Most callers to NRS are girls and the average age is 16. Why do kids run away? Our statistics show us that the majority (35%) of callers identify family dynamics as the leading reason for leaving. Family dynamics includes divorce, remarriage, step/blended families, problems with family rules, discipline, or problems with siblings. Often kids leave to remove themselves from an immediately painful situation, but with no plans for what to do next. How can I help NRS? You can help in many ways. Volunteer your time, make a financial contribution, distribute educational and promotional materials in schools and in your community. Where is NRS located? Is Chicago your only office? The call center and administrative office are located in Chicago (our only location). Because our database is so comprehensive, our ability to provide community-based referrals makes us seem local. Are your services only available for runaway, homeless and throwaway youth? No. A child who runs away has a tremendous impact on the community – family, school, friends. While we can provide referrals to shelter, food, and medical/legal assistance for runaway and homeless youth, prevention is one of our goals. Being available to a youth who needs someone to talk to may change his/her initial plan to leave home. Problem solving with a frustrated parent can change the dynamics of a family issue. Our services are available for siblings who are caught in the middle of, or feeling neglected because of what’s going on at home. Teachers, agency personnel, law enforcement officers – anyone concerned about the well being of a youth – are encouraged to call. Where does NRS get its money? We receive funding from the government, foundations, corporations, and individuals. We also receive many in-kind donations from businesses. How are volunteers trained? Before taking their first call, each "liner" must complete a 36.5-hour training program including classroom and experiential training. Who do I talk to for additional information? See our list of staff for the appropriate person to contact. If you’re not sure who to speak with, please call our general number at (773) 880-9860. 1-800-RUNAWAY. Anonymous and Confidential. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Teenagers Running Away Basics Truths: Teens who run away are not bad. They have made a bad decision. They got themselves caught up in pressures that they felt the need to escape from. Instead of facing their problem and solving it, they chose to run from it. We need to teach our teen how to face their problems, even if the problem is us. When they have the right tools to fix some of the things that may be going on in their lives, the pressure lessens, and there is no more need for them to escape. Every teen either has tried or knows another teen who has run away. I haven't meet a teen yet who didn't know of someone's experience of running away. This can be a real problem, considering most teens will glamorize the experience. You can not lock them in. As much as you would like to build a wall around them, it is their choice whether or not to walk out the door. The phrase I use, "There are no bars on these windows, and the doors only lock people out." This is harsh, and I know it, but it also very much the truth. As a parent I can be a safety net, a tool box, and an emotional punching bag, but I refuse to be a chain. I do not want them to ever leave. There is nothing that they can do to ever make me want them to go. My teens know this because I tell them verbally and non verbally. Parents of teens who run away are not bad parents. 'A survey done by the National Runaway Switchboard of the children who call the service indicates that about 16 percent of runaways have been abused physically, emotionally or sexually.' (Taking a run at the runaways problem, by Gary Miller) Children of abuse tend to stick around, and not run from the situation... this is another feature. If your Teens Runs: Call the Police, IMMEDIATELY!! Don't wait 24 hours, do it right away. Ask investigators to enter your child into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Persons File. There is no waiting period for entry into NCIC for children under age 18. Get the name and badge number of the officer you speak with. Call back often. Call everyone your child knows and enlisted their help. Search everywhere, but do not leave your phone unattended. Search your teens room for anything that may give you a clue as to where he went. You may also want to check your phone bill for any calls they may have made recently. Call the National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000, you can leave a message for your child with them. When Your Teen Comes Home: Take a break from each other. Do not start talking about it right away. Your emotions are too high at this point to get anywhere in a conversation. Go two separate directions until you both have gotten some rest. Ask and Listen. Why did they leave? You may want to evaluate a rule or two after speaking with them, but do not do so while having this talk. Tell them you are willing to think about it, and you will let them know. Talk! Tell them how you felt about them going, let them know that they hurt you by leaving. Let them know that there isn't a problem that you, together can't solve. If they ever feel that running away might solve something, have them talk to you first, you could always offer other choices, so they can make a better decision. Get some help. If this isn't the first time or you have problems communicating when they get back, it's time to ask for help. This could be a person that your child respects, ie aunt or uncle. Or you may want to seek professional help, one place to check online is Raising Today's Teen. http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/runningaway/a/runaways.htm

Runaways and Missing Children There is NO 24-hour waiting period for reporting missing children under 18. The first 48 hours are the most important in locating your child. Dial 911 as soon as you suspect your child has disappeared and demand that a police report be filed immediately. Record the officer’s name, badge number, telephone, fax and report numbers. Ask who will follow up the initial investigation. MORE THINGS TO DO After you call the police, call the Sheriff's Department, state police, and police from adjoining jurisdictions. File reports, record the officers' names, badge numbers, telephone, fax, and report numbers. Check with your child's friends, work, neighbors, relatives, or anyone else who may know of your child's whereabouts. Ask them to notify you if they hear from your child. Go to your child's school, speak with teachers and staff, and go through your child's lockers and desks. Find out if any of your child's friends are missing. They may be together. Notify the local FBI office and have your child's description entered into the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer. Check home computers for leads such as online contacts and details of a planned meeting. Call missing children helplines, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST and Operation Lookout at 1-800-782-SEEK. Call runaway hotlines if you suspect your teen is a runaway, such as the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-621-4000. Notify your state's missing children information clearinghouse and other helping organizations. Keep a record of everyone you contact, including date and time, name of person, organization, phone number, and information received. Keep your home phone staffed and record conversations. This may be the only way your child knows how to reach you. Close the door to your child's room and don't touch anything in there. Find pictures of your child to use in the search. Choose photographs that are recent and realistic. Check telephone bills for the past few months for any unfamiliar long distance calls. Cooperate fully with the police and the media. Contact runaway shelters in your area and in nearby areas and states. Give them your child's photograph. If your teen gives an incorrect name and age, it will help identify him/her. Contact hospitals, abortion clinics, drug treatment centers, and counseling services in your area. Leave flyers at youth hangouts, malls, and recreation centers. You can create, display, and print a Missing Person Flyer from your computer. Offer a reward. The Carol Sund / Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation provides Missing Person-Criminal Apprehension Rewards of up to $10,000. Hire a private investigator. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fifteen years ago, federal legislation was passed directing police to take reports immediately on any missing children under age 18, including runaways. Under the law, that information must be entered into the National Crime Information Center, a computerized database of victims and criminals maintained by the FBI. However, that doesn't mean police start to search immediately. While police officers are required to take a report and assess every missing child case, only the children who are believed to be in danger or are under age 13 or mentally or physically disabled are automatically classified as "critical missing persons." The Amber Alert is not intended for runaways or parental abductions except in life threatening situations and is intended only for the most serious, time-critical child abduction cases. RUNAWAYS According to the National Runaway Switchboard, every day, between 1.3 and 2.8 million runaway and homeless youth live on the streets of America. One out of every seven children will run away before the age of 18. Seventy-five percent of runaways who remain at large for two or more weeks will become involved in theft, drugs, or pornography, while one out of every three teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Gay or bisexual youth are even more likely to be involved in prostitution. Among the findings of a study titled The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico (pdf): 325,000 children are reported as being sexually exploited in the United States annually. Of that figure, 121,911 ran away from home and 51,602 were thrown out of their homes by a parent or guardian. Among runaway and homeless youth, approximately 30% of shelter youth and 70% of street youth engaged in prostitution in order to meet their daily needs for food, shelter, drugs, etc. 75% of children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation are from middle-class backgrounds. 40% of the girls who engaged in prostitution were sexually abused at home, as were 30% of the boys. Other risks that runaways face are malnutrition, psychological disorders, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse, robbery, and sexual and physical assault have all been found in high proportions among these young people. Major depression, conduct disorder, and posttraumatic stress are also higher among runaway youth. Why Teens Run Away Teens leave home for a wide variety of reasons, including trouble in school, arguments with their family, problems that arise due to their sexual orientation, and the influence of predators. According to Laurie Schaffner, author of Teenage Runaways: Broken Hearts and Bad Attitudes, runaways “may leave on impulse, protesting a family quarrel over a rule or an isolated incident.” But the main motivation for running away seems to be neglect or abuse at home. They decide that their only chance to survive is to run away. However, what many of these teens learn is that they are no safer on the streets. From the mid-1970s to the present time, life on the streets has become more dangerous owing to increasing sexual exploitation and drug use. The dangers they face are often more harrowing than anything they would face at home; yet when they weigh their options, many of these teens often choose to stick it out on their own — believing they have at least some control over their lives — rather than return to an environment where they know they will be abused. Situational Runaways are the largest group of runaways, comprised of young people who leave home for a day or two after a disagreement with parents. Although they may be seen in runaway shelters or spend a brief time on the street, they usually return home within a few days. A small percentage may repeat this behavior and remain away for longer periods. If so, they become a part of the chronic runaway group. The suburban kid who runs to a friend's house the first time may turn into a chronic runaway who eventually finds her way to the heart of the nearby city, where other rootless kids hang out. Runaways may leave for long periods of time, often progressing from repeat runaway to chronic runaway to street youth. The latter do not return home at all, but live in transitory housing, such as friends' apartments, shelters, cheap hotels, abandoned buildings ("squats"), or underneath high bridges. They tend to hang out at fast food restaurants, shopping malls and video arcades. These youth are usually totally on their own for their survival and are frequent victims of the violence and numerous dangers of the streets. Throwaways are defined as youth who have left home because their parents have abandoned them, asked them to leave, or subjected them to extreme levels of abuse or neglect. Many in this group may have spent time previously with relatives or had periods of residence in foster care. Runaway Prevention If you are concerned that your child may consider running away, the Polly Klaas Foundation recommends taking the following cautionary steps: Provide a place of safety for your children - both emotionally and physically. Talk with your children openly and honestly. Listen to your children when they talk about concerns, feelings and difficulties they may be facing. Respect your children's emotional responses in every situation. Encourage your children to succeed and to work through their differences and struggles. Support your children's need to mature and gain independence with their years and to develop. relationships with other mature adults. Create opportunities for your children to learn about making positive decisions for their lives. Teach your children to be accountable for their actions. Protect your children from feelings of loneliness and isolation. Defend your children openly against harassment or verbal abuse of any kind. Make your home a place of trust and support that fulfills your child’s needs. Each of these steps will help your children have a sense of value and security. When children feel safe, accepted and loved, they are more likely to recognize that they can resolve problems or difficulties without running away. (From Keeping Our Children Safe, Polly Klaas Foundation). When Your Teen Returns Home Be happy that your child is back home. Many teens fear the initial meeting with their parents. Remain calm. Express relief and tell your child you love him/her and that together you will solve any problems. Make follow-up phone calls. Let all your contacts, including the police, know your child has returned home. Police may need to speak or meet with your child. Allow time to settle in. Your child may need a shower, a meal, clean clothes, or sleep. Get medical attention. Visit your family doctor to address any medical concerns. Talk with your teen. Discuss how you can work together to prevent him/her from leaving again. Acknowledge some problems take time and effort to solve. Be sure you resolve the problems safely and reasonably. Look for assistance and support. People and organizations in your community can help counsel your family. Asking for help is a sign of strength and shows you are taking the issue seriously. Visit your state's Family Help page for resources that can help and support your teen and your family. HOTLINES AND HELPLINES ChildFind Canada 1-800-387-7962 24 Hour Child Quest - Report a Sighting of a Missing Person 1-888-818-HOPE 1-888-818-4673 Missing Children Society of Canada 1-800-661-6160 24 Hour National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST 24 Hour National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000 24 Hour North American Missing Children Lines Operation Lookout 1-800-782-SEEK 24 Hour State Missing Children Clearinghouses Team H.O.P.E. 1-866-305-HOPE Parent network for families of missing children offering encouragement, empowerment, resources, and support. Go to the Focus Directory of Family Help to find hotlines and helplines in your state. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Foundation 1-888-813-8389 Helps families without economic means to offer rewards for information in order to help law enforcement officials locate missing loved ones. Child Quest International 408-287-4673 Dedicated to the protection and recovery of missing, abused and exploited children and at-risk adults. Services are free to victims and their families. Children of the Night 1-800-551-1300 Assists children between the ages of 11-17 who are sexually abused and forced to prostitute on the streets for food to eat and a place to sleep. Christin Lamb Foundation 1-800-651-5252 Provides help to recover missing and exploited children and information on nationwide resources available. Committee for Missing Children 1-800-525-8204 International parent advocacy group that gathers and shares information, serves as a clearinghouse for information and laws about missing children, and is developing the largest database in this country on missing children. Extensive information on parental/family abductions. Danielle Legacy Foundation Honoring the memory of Danielle van Dam through child safety education, prevention, and protection. Doe Network: International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons Volunteer organization devoted to assisting law enforcement in solving cold cases concerning unexplained disappearances and unidentified victims from North America, Australia, and Europe. Find Missing Kids Child and victim advocacy, memorial to those who have died as a result of violent crime, prevention programs, and free services. Greyhound's Home Free Program 1-800-621-4000 Greyhound Lines will provide free one way transportation between any two points in the continental United States (excluding Alaska) for runaway children returning home through its "Home Free" program, in conjunction with the National Runaway Switchboard. Heidi Search Center for Missing Children 210-650-0428 1-800-547-4435 Assists families, communities, and law enforcement agencies throughout the United States in locating and recovering missing children. Interpol 202-616-9000 Interpol provides information on the web concerning children, possible abuses and what the International Police Organization can do top detect crimes and track down criminals. Includes a search for missing children. Klaas Kids Foundation 415-331-6867 Includes the Klaas Action Review anthology; review of Megan's Law for each state; review of state victim's rights statutes and amendments; child safety information and links to other informational websites. Spanish website. The Jacob Wetterling Foundation 651-714-4673 Works nationally to end child sexual exploitation, abuse, and non-family abductions. The Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction 772-492-0200 Education, advocacy, and support organization for families, friends, and those concerned for victims of an abduction where the child victim is considered in imminent physical peril, regardless of whether the abductor is a stranger, neighbor, or relative. The Johnny Gosch Foundation~ Educates on the reality and seriousness of kidnapping and pornography, and how it could happen to your family. Read Why Johnny Can't Come Home. The Joyful Child Foundation - In Memory of Samantha Runnion 1-866-756-9385 Proactive approaches in dealing with the difficult issues of violence against children while celebrating the gift that is every child. Laura Recovery Center Foundation 281-482-5723 1-866-898-5723 The mission is to foster the Triangle of Trust among law enforcement, community, and a missing child's family. Manual on how to conduct a search for a missing child is available online and for downloading. Morgan Nick Foundation 1-877-543-HOPE Assists in recovering missing children across the country and serves as a support team to the many families of missing children. An MNF Case Manager works with families and serves as a liaison to law enforcement agencies. National Center for Missing Adults 1-800-690-FIND National clearinghouse for missing adults (age 18 and older), providing services and coordination between various government agencies, law enforcement, media, and most importantly - the families of missing adults. NCMA also maintains a national database of missing adults determined to be "endangered" or otherwise at-risk. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST Assistance to parents, children, law enforcement, schools, and the community in recovering missing children and raising public awareness about ways to help prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation. National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000 Confidential crisis intervention and referrals to youth and their families through national and local telephone switchboards, as well as advocacy and educational services on behalf of youth. North America Missing Children's Association ~ Canadian organization that works with policing agencies by passing on important information that will assist in locating missing individuals. Operation Go Home 1-800-668-4663 Reunites runaway youth (ages 16 and 17) in Canada with their families; OR connects them with an existing agency that can best help them meet their needs and become productive citizens. The Polly Klaas Foundation 1-800-587-4357 Helps find missing children, prevents children from going missing in the first place, and works with policymakers to promote legislation like the Family Abduction Prevention Act and Amber Alert. Project Jason 402-932-0095 Public awareness of missing people through outreach and educational activities, and support, resources, and assistance to families of the missing. Runs the Adopt a Missing Person Program. Rachel Alert Network Helps prevent abductions through awareness education and provides information to friends and families of abducted persons. The Rachel Foundation 830-864-4460 Helps abducted and alienated children reintegrate with their families. Read Rebuilding broken bonds. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation 1-866-400-5353 Assists in the location and recovery of missing or abducted children. Vanished Children's Alliance 408-296-1113 The second oldest and largest missing children's organization in the United States. http://www.focusas.com/Runaways.html

Who searches for runaway kids? NBC2 News Last updated on: 5/17/2006 6:37:18 PM LEE COUNTY: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children explained at least eight children from Southwest Florida have run away in the last year and a ninth is a possible parental abduction. Many people are left to wonder who searches for these children. Patricia Chapman’s 12-year-old daughter Karina Hoyle has been missing for more than three weeks after she and her mom got into a fight. "You see it on TV all the time and you can't even put your finger on the pain until it happens to you," said Chapman. Mag Nosbusch from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office explained that you don’t always hear about these cases. "If there's some indication it is not voluntary, then we would call you, or if they haven't been heard for a length of time we'll call you," said Nosbusch. She said runaways often make contact with the family but because a lot of the calls come in through cell phones it takes a subpoena to obtain the call information. "It takes days, and they can only tell us a tower location," said Nosbusch. In essence, even if there is direct contact between a missing child and a family member, it might not provide any leads as to where they might be. Nosbusch guaranteed that the children are never forgotten. "It's not a TV missing or car missing, it's a human being," said Nosbusch. Their names are inputted into a computer system until the case is closed. Chapman explained that she received a phone call from her daughter two weeks ago in which Karina said she would come home when she wanted to. "The tiki torch, I light it every night and when it's taken down she will have come home," said Chapman. If a child goes missing at age 17 and is found at age 18, the child has the right to tell police not to contact their parents. You are urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office if you have information. If your child goes missing, your first step should be is to call the police. http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7153&z=3&p=

Tracking runaways Saturday, May 27, 2006 Thousands of children run away from home every year, and the problem continually is getting worse. A week ago, a 9-year-old boy from St. Petersburg ran away from his foster home. Police spent three days tracking him down, finally catching up with him in an abandoned apartment in Oldsmar. It was the third time the boy had run away. Cases like his are nothing new to the St. Petersburg Police Department. The department has two investigators, Horace Niero and Deena Mobley, dedicated to finding runaways and missing children. The two investigators come to work every day with 60 to 70 open runaway cases waiting for them. Niero believes the fear of predators walking the streets has parents calling police more often. "We have young girls out there that are being taken advantage of on a daily basis by older men, and in some cases older women," Niero said. Niero says one of the biggest reasons runaways are a growing problem is children today have less respect for their parents. He also believes parents fear being arrested if they punish their child too strongly. "Kids seem to seize that as an opportunity to intimidate the parents and walk in and out of the house when they feel like it," he said. Niero says he needs the parents' help in getting a handle on the problem. The parents' insight is invaluable in getting through to the kids, in finding out what makes them tick and what caused them to run away. The first 48 hours are the most important in locating a missing or runaway child. If a child has run away, parents should: Call 911 to file a police report. Call law enforcement in nearby jurisdictions to let them know. Find out if any of the child's friends are missing. Check with the child's school to see if they have any information. Call a runaway hotline to report the child's information. http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2006/5/27/160933.html

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