2004 NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD STATISTICS REVEAL YOUTH WHO CALL HOTLINE ARE ALREADY ON THE STREET

NRS Handles over 111,000 calls with Youth, Families, Social Service Agencies

CHICAGO (February 28, 2005) – The 2004 statistics from the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) reveals that out of 111,000 calls handled by the national non-profit organization, 42 percent were from youth in crisis or youth contemplating running from home.  Of this demographic, 58 percent identified themselves as being on the street as a runaway, throwaway or homeless youth.

Among youth callers, 45 percent said they had been on the street one to three days and 49 percent claimed to be with a friend or relative at the time of their call.  Family dynamics was identified as the number one reason for calling the NRS hotline by 36 percent of all callers.

“The numbers are staggering and they demonstrate the continuous need to help keep America’s youth safe and off the street,” said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director.  “This is what we – our front line team of staff and volunteers – do 24 hours a day every day of the year as the oldest hotline in the world.”

Of the 111,000 calls handled by NRS in 2004, the following information outlines who calls were with, the reason, current situation, and additional facts and figures.

Who calls were handled with by NRS:

Females:	77%
Youth:	42%
Parent or guardian:	35%

Why calls were handled by NRS:

Family dynamics such as divorce, remarriage, problems with siblings and extended family members:	36%
Peer/social concerns such as peer pressure, gang issues, dating and relationships:	13%
Concerns with youth services – a relationship with a social worker, placement in alternative housing, involvement with state social services systems or alternate housing:	10%

Time the youth has spent on the street at the time of the call:

1-3 days:	45%
4-7 days:	21%
1-4 weeks:	14%

The youth’s situation at the time of the call:

On the street as a runaway, throwaway or homeless youth:	58%
At home and dealing with a crisis situation:	31%
Contemplating running from home:	11%

How youth survived while away from home/on the street:

Help from a friend or relative:	49%
Shelter or soup kitchen:	9%
Personal funds:	8%

Reported age identified by the caller:

16	22%
17	22%
15	14%
18	11%

Top five states where NRS call center volunteers handled calls:

Illinois	19,264 calls
California	15,629 calls
Texas	9,542 calls
Florida	6,779 calls
New York	5,241 calls

Other Important Facts and Information:

• 26 percent of the youth reported they were at home at the time of the call; 23 percent were at a friend’s home.

• 41 percent of the youth callers admitted they had previously run from home, while 59 percent said they were running for the first time

• 34 percent of the youth obtained the toll-free crisis line number –
• 1-800-RUNAWAY – from the phone company; only eight percent of the youth obtained the crisis line number through the media.

• In 2004, the NRS’ Home Free program, a partnership with Greyhound Lines, Inc. – served 989 youth and issued 672 tickets.

• More than 150 volunteers serve as NRS’ lifeblood, with most of the volunteers serving on the crisis hotline.  Before taking their first call, each “liner” must complete a 36.5-hour training program including classroom and experiential training.  NRS also has 18 professional staff members, and 20 board members offering strategic direction of the organization.

• NRS has a national database containing more than 17,000 resources and a referral library providing over 200,000 references.

• Additional information and statistics are found at www.1800runaway.org.

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 handled over 111,000 calls last year.   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.  The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY.  For more information visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org.