All too often children and young adults run away from their families and homes. Many things can lead to this crisis, from abuse or neglect to rebellion, but no matter the reasoning runaway youths are a terrifying problem in our culture. Thankfully, there are agencies that can offer help quickly to families in crisis.
The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is a confidential phone service available 24/7 for youths who are considering running away or have already done so. The NRS offers services such as a listening ear, helping the child think through their options, and helping families to communicate through 3-way calling. The NRS are also partnered with Greyhound to provide bus tickets free of charge to runaway youths seeking to return back home or to another safe environment.
The NRS provides services to parents of runaway youths as well, seeking to advise then and help them connect with their child. They also provide messaging services in which a parent can leave a message for their runaway child which can then be relayed to the child when he or she calls the safeline.
If you are a runaway, are considering running away, or are a parent of a runaway, the NRS may be of help to you. Contact them at 1-800-RUNAWAY, or live chat on their website: www.1800runaway.org.
