NCJ Number
93870
Date Published
1980
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Teenage runaways typically come from troubled families. Often, they have been sexually abused, beaten, neglected, or abandoned. The majority of runaways live on the streets and survive by prostituting themselves.
Abstract
The National Runaway Hotline, funded by the State of Texas, was set up to help parents and their runaway children. Parents can call to find out if their children left any messages for them, and children can contact the hotline to get help or to indirectly contact their parents. The aim of the hotline is to reunite runaways with their families. Since enactment of the 1974 Runaway Youth Act, runaways are staying closer to home because the Act provides funds for runaway shelters in local communities. One shelter, Under 21, which is run by Father Bruce Ritter in New York City, has helped more than 14,000 runaways in its first 3 years of operation. The Galveston Youth Shelther (Texas) serves runaways by offering a structured program and family counseling. Although over 600 shelters are operating around the country, more are needed to accommodate the numerous abused, neglected, and troubled youth who run away from home.