National Runaway Switchboard Offers Alternatives to Youth Thinking of Running From Home, Youth On Street

CHICAGO (June 28, 2005) – The number of youth who run away from home increases by nearly 50 percent in the summer, according to the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Youth (NISMART).

There are many reasons teenagers run from home: anger at parents or siblings because of a fight, the divorce of parents, peer pressure, bad grades at school. Whatever the reason, more than 1,200 teenagers run away from home each day. Annually, more than 1.3 million youth are on the streets. And one in seven young people will run away from home at least once before they turn 18.

Considering the greater likelihood of youth running away in the summer, chances are high that many youth right now know or will know someone who has run away from home. And chances are high that many youth who are in crisis and are thinking of running, or are already on the street, do not know where to turn to get help. But there is help. The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) strives to keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.

"As the oldest hotline in the world, we have 34 years of experience handling calls from youth across the country. Our goal is to ensure that every youth who calls our crisis hotline is in a safe place and has a positive plan of action at the end of the call," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. "Not everyone who calls our hotline is on the street. Many youth are at home or at a friend’s house looking for someone to talk to and looking for alternatives to running."

According to Blaha, several alternatives to running include:

• Call 1-800-RUNAWAY and talk to someone who cares.
• Invest in trust. Talk to a friend, a teacher, a favorite relative, a parent, or a coach.
• Learn how to play guitar, drums or another musical instrument. Almost every rock and roll star started at a young age.
• Start a new hobby such as a photography, drawing or dance class.
• Go to the local recreation department or YMCA and join a sporting team.
• Get involved in the community: volunteer at the local hospital, nursing home, YMCA.
• Get a job to buy that first new car.

These are just a few things youth can do instead of running away. For more ideas visit www.1800runaway.org.

The NRS front line team of staff and volunteers take phone calls any time of the day or night, any day of the year. Simply call the toll-free number at 1-800-RUNAWAY. All calls are anonymous and confidential; the caller does not have to give their name. Callers only need to disclose as much information as they are comfortable in giving and an NRS front line team member will discuss all available options.

"Youth who are already on the street call 1-800-RUNAWAY because they are cold, tired, hungry or have no where to turn," Blaha continued. "Whether it’s summer, fall, winter or spring, many youth who call want to go home, but they don’t know how to get there. NRS’ Home Free Program, a partnership with Greyhound Lines, Inc., helps youth between the ages of 12 and 20 get home again safely, and at no cost."

The National Runaway Switchboard, established in 1971, serves as the federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth. Recognized as the oldest hotline in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, has handled more than 3 million calls in its 34-year history and handles an average of 115,000 calls annually. NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 10,000 youth have been reunited with their families through NRS’ Home Free program, done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc. The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY. For more information visit www.1800runaway.org.