Concerned Sister

[Guest]

My brother has run away before but never for so long it's been well over 24 hours now. He has never really gotton along with my parents but they haven't done anything to him. Yeah they don't let him do everything he wants and my dad gets a little intense when he's mad but that's it. I want to help but I don't know how. My brother is only 13 he can't survive on his own. I'm only 16 so I don't know how much help I could be. My brother and I don't really get along but I love him so much and I don't want anything bad to happen to him. Thanks for any advice in advance.

[ccsmod10]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We’re so sorry to hear that things at home with your brother have been so challenging. It sounds like this is the first time that he’s been gone for that long and you’re not sure about how to help with his situation. What you and your parents can do really depends on what you’re comfortable with.

One option that you have is to reach out to his friends on social media to let them know that you’re all concerned about his well-being. If you’ve been having trouble reaching your brother, your parents can give us a call here to use our message service. Through our message service, they can leave a message for your brother, then put the word out (letting his friends know, putting it out on social media) that he has a message he can pick up by calling our confidential hotline.

Another option your parents might have if they’re concerned about his safety is to reach out to the local police department to file a runaway report. We’re not legal experts, but from what we understand, it’s not illegal to run away, but in some states it may be considered a status offense. What happens after the report is made really depends on how the local police department chooses to handle the situation. If the local police actively look for missing youth, they may go to places where your parents think he may have gone, and if they do locate your brother, they’d bring him back home or ask your parents to pick him up.
We understand that this is a really tough situation for your family. It sounds like you really love your brother and want to make sure he’s safe. Know that we are here to support you, your brother, and your parents. We can’t tell you what to do, but we will do our best to help your brother stay safe and explore options. You can reach us 24/7 at 1.800.RUNAWAY (786.2929), or via chat every day from 4:30pm – 11:30pm CST. We’re here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS