PARENTS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE:
HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD
CHICAGO (January 16, 2006) – One of the greatest fears parents experience is discovering that their child is missing or has run away. Even more alarming is that according to the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), one in seven youth between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away. NRS believes runaway scenarios may be prevented by being aware of the warning signs, and by parents maintaining open lines of communication with their children.
“More often than not, most runaways are not running to someplace, but rather, they are running away from a negative family situation,” said Maureen Blaha, executive director of NRS. “If your child or if another child you know is even considering running away, please call 1-800-RUNAWAY for help.”
While there is no absolute way to predict which teens will run and which teens will not, according to Blaha there are consistent warning signals, including:
- Changes in behaviors or daily patterns. Does the child suddenly stop eating or begin to overeat, sleep all day or never sleep, spend all their time with friends or never want to leave their room? Sudden mood swings may mean they are unsettled and restless – not coping well with stress.
- Rebellious behavior. Are the child’s grades dropping, are they breaking the rules at home and/or picking fights with their siblings?
- Disclosure of intentions to run away. Has the child hinted at running away? Has the child threatened to run? Sometimes family members will hear rumors through friends, school, or other parents that a child is thinking of leaving.
- Accumulations of money and possessions. Has the child started to withdraw cash from a bank account? Does the child always have a packed bag of clothes in the closet? To survive, runaways know they need money and resources, and are often prepared for a quick exit.
Parents need to confront their suspicions immediately if they think their child may be considering running away from home. The parent should try to convey in a clear and calm manner that they are concerned and their child’s behavior makes them feel afraid that they might run away from home. Parents should invite the child to talk with them directly or another trustworthy adult about what is on their mind. It is important for parents to put their frustration and anger aside, to be supportive and suggest positive ways for the child to deal with their stress. All parents need to make it well known that they do not want their children to run away and that they are committed to working things out.
If a child should run away from home, call the police immediately to file a Missing Persons File. There is no waiting period for law enforcement to take a report on a missing child.
“It’s important to remember that children who run or who think about running are not bad kids,” said Blaha. “Usually they are good kids running from bad situations. And the NRS front line team is there for both the children and the parents as a valuable resource.”
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 of its kind in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, has handled more than three million calls in its 35-year history and handles an average of 100,000 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.
Contact:
Joel Kessel
National Runaway Switchboard
(773) 929-6805 (direct)
(773) 209-6125 (mobile)
jkessel@rcn.com
