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National Statistics
National Runaway Switchboard
3080 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: (773) 880-9860
Fax: (773) 929-5150

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NRS Call Statistics

  • NRS handles more than 100,000 calls annually.  In 2008, NRS handled 114,097 calls.
  • Family dynamics is the most frequently identified problem identified by crisis callers.
  • 72% of crisis callers are female
  • Friends and relatives are the most frequently identified means of survival for crisis callers (53%)
  • 56% of crisis callers have been on the street for one week or less

 


View 2008 Area Code Breakdown


National Runaway Switchboard
Crisis Call Log and Program Services Report
January-December 2008


Note: Data is only collected on crisis related calls and not all calls to crisisline

Youth Status at Time of Call
*Runaway 42%
Youth in crisis 36%
Contemplating running away 12%
*Homeless 5%
*Throwaway 4%
Suspected Missing 1%
**Youth on the street 50%

Reported Age Of Caller
under 12 1%
12 1%
13 5%
14 9%
15 13%
16 18%
17 21%
18 12%
19 9%
20 8%
21 3%
Youth previously run (no) 47%
Youth previously run (yes) 27%
unknown 26%

Means of Survival
Friends/relatives 53%
Unknown 27%
Shelter 7%
Personal Funds 5%
Panhandling 2%
Employment 2%
Detention/Police 1%
Sex Industry 1%
Selling Drugs 1%
Stealing 1%

Caller Relationship
Youth 49%
Parent 30%
Relative 7%
Adult 7%
Youth's Friend 4%
Police 2%
Agency 1%

Time on the Streets Before Calling NRS
1-3 days 39%
4-7 days 17%
1-4 weeks 23%
1-2 months 9%
2-6 months 8%
over 6 months 4%

Caller Gender
Female 72%
Male 28%


 

 
Caller Obtained Toll Free Number
Phone Book 20%
Word of Mouth 17%
Internet/NRS website 15%
Social Service Agency 9%
Greyhound 8%
Book 7%
Previous Call 6%
Police 5%
Ad (PSA) on Television 4%
School 4%
Other 2%
Directory Assistance/Operator 2%
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1%
Public Service Announcement 1%

Problems Identified by Callers
Family Dynamics 29%
Peer/Social 14%
School/Education 8%
Mental Health 8%
Physical Abuse 6%
Alcohol/Drug Use 5%
Transportation 5%
Youth Services 4%
Economics 4%
Emotional/Verbal Abuse 4%
Judicial System 4%
Neglect 3%
Health 3%
Sexual Abuse/Assault 2%
GLBTQ 1%

Whereabouts of Youth Who is the Subject
Home 32%
Unknown to Caller 20%
Friend 18%
Street/Pay Phone 7%
Relative 6%
Greyhound 5%
Shelter 3%
Other 3%
Recent Acquaintance 2%
Police/Detention 2%
School 2%

Options Discussed with Youth
NRS services 18%
Family Member 13%
Friend 12%
Police 9%
Alt Youth Housing 7%
Adult 7%
School/Personnel 5%
Social Services 5%
Self Help 4%
Mental Health 4%
Legal 3%
Home Free Program 3%
Missing Children Hotline 2%
Child Abuse Reporting 2%
Mins/Chins 1%
Health Professional 1%
Transitional Living Progam 1%
Social Worker 1%
Clergy 1%
United Way 1%



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