I am 15 and i want to go live with my friends family

[Guest]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS! We understand you feel alone and not heard. Know that we want to help. We are sorry that you are being treated that way and are told to do things you do not want to do. If you wish to talk about things we would love to talk and figure out options for you to get away from as home seems like it is putting you in danger.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

hi im 15 and i currently live with my grandmother because neither of my parents are in the picture i want to leave my grandmothers house and move with a close friend of mine . i have alot of issues with my grandmother what should i do ?

[Guest]

I am 12 years old, and my life has been stressful on me. My parents constantly yell at me, and say hurtful things about me. School itself is very stressful, because my grades been failing, cause of home. I do chores on a regular basis, when I come home from school, I don't wanna do anything. Like last night my mom said calmly "You might not seem anybody is there for you, but one thing that’s there for you is laundry" and my dad says "If you don't finish laundry in time you’re gonna get paddled". I talked to a guidance counselor today at school about it, but she didn't tell me anything, that would help. I am the only one in the house that does chores, and sometimes I have to cook food for me and my 5-year-old brother. I understand that my parents might be stressful at work, too. But, I can't have them put it on me cause my life is already stressful, itself. I want to stay down my friend’s house, for at least a week, to think things through. We go to the same school, and I feel it will help me with everything happening. I'm always scared to talk to my parents cause they yell at me telling me I'm wrong. Half of the time, I feel like a servant, just doing everything. I don't wanna be their "little servant" anymore. At this point, if they're not showing me respect then I'm not showing them respect. I need suggestions on how to talk to them about staying with my friend. I'm just so scared to.

[ccsmod4]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
We are sorry that things are not going well with your mom and dad. It must be pretty hard for you. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed emotionally by things at home right now.
You don’t deserve to be mistreated or put in the position to be care giver to your younger brother. It sounds like talking with them is something you are afraid to do. That’s too bad.
Sometimes when communication breaks down with those you are close with it makes it difficult to know just where to turn. You did well reaching out today. We would like you to know NRS is here to listen and here to help. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You spoke of a counselor at school. Perhaps you might consider asking if they would help mediate a conversation between you and your parent’s. Talking at the school may be a place to provide you with a safe space to talk about your feelings. NRS also offers mediation through conference calling.

Just something to consider.
Reaching out to NRS was a very brave thing to do. Good for you.
We are here to listen and here to help. If you would like to speak more about your situation, please contact us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runway.org

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Please get back to me . I am 14 years old ( almost 15 ) and my father passed away 3 years ago . He signed the will to my aunt . I hate living with her and I feel like killing myself all the time and I hate feeling like that . I don’t want it to get to that point but I can’t take it anymore . I’m always getting in trouble and screamed at and before my dad passed he had this girlfriend for 4 years , I never had a mother figure in my life so I consider her my mom . Her and her husband said I could live with them so I could finish out school at a school I actually wanted to go too because I hate where I live . I have always been closer to the one I consider my mom than my aunt . I really wanna live with her but I don’t know if it’s aloud since she technically isn’t blood . My life would be so much easier . I was just at her house this weekend and just came back today . I had a great weekend and then when I got home my aunt was screaming at me and it got me so worked up to where I was gonna run away . Please help .

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now.You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your legal guardians permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your aunt. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

I'm 11 and my name is Emma. I don't want to run away, this is for my friend Sara. Yesterday she was on the bridge or crying and was taking about how things are bad at home, I understand because her parents have given her threat's in the past and she's like a slave. They used to say " I can't wait till you're 18, so I can slap that pathetic smile of your face " and " I'm gonna rip your head off your shoulders". I worry for her because she talks about how great my parents are and how she wants to run away, die her hair, dress like a goth chick (like me) and move in with me. I live in New York and I want to know the price of harboring my bff from her parents. Please help my friend
Emma

[ccsmod4]

Hello Emma,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
It seems there is a lot that your friend is faced with right now and you’re wanting to find a way to help them.
It’s great that your friend has your support and concern, especially since this time is probably quite difficult for them.
We are not legal experts and only can provide some general legal information when it comes to someone running away or someone assisting/aiding a person running away.
Someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and if found they may be returned home. Also, those that a reported runaway stays with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Anyone found to be assisting or aiding someone to run away may also find themselves at risk legally.

Being abused is not the fault of your friend. They don’t deserve to have this happen to them.
There are laws to protect minors against abuse. If Sara would like to file an abuse report she may do so by contacting Child Help USA at: 1-800-422-4453.
This is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone trustworthy for consideration of transference of custody.

You did a great service to Sara by reaching out. She is welcome to contact NRS if she would like to talk about her situation. We are here to listen and here to help.
Contact us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I'm 15 and part of the LGBT+ community (But the Transgender part is more important to this). I also have a four year old half-sister (from my moms abusive relationship, which she's no longer in, he still gets visitations). I live in NC.
My dad passed away eight years ago, and this year I finally realized my mom has mental illness. She has harmed me physically, pushed me around a lot as well as laying her hands on me (but not as often as just shoving me). Recently she gave me a concussion after throwing me to the ground. She is also mentally abusive, calling me all names, using my father against me, embarrassing me in front of my friends or adults by telling them how she doesn't support LGBT+ (talking about how she thinks its disgusting and against nature), she consistently tells I'm selfish, that people only like me because they don't live with me, and won't take blame for anything going wrong. I'm the scapegoat, and she'll blame anything she did on me. I have recordings of her yelling at me, and I took pictures of how shes destroyed things out of anger. She knew I was transgender two years ago but now she knows I'm not going to stop. She's taking me out of my safe school and putting me into a school that she knows I'll be in danger in, (telling me she doesn't care if I "get beat up everyday by the flag pole" - a direct quote). I won't need to rely on her as much by going to the dangerous school but I am in serious danger if I don't fake it like I'm straight and cisgender. We have only one family friend (She sticks around for my sister and I) and even she knows my mom is mentally and physically abusing me, and neglected my sister when she was younger (I had to take care of her). I want to live with my friend and she says its a possibility, I haven't sat down with her parents yet, but she says they could set it up. What would you suggest I do? If I were to run away she would track me down, I cannot reason with her, I don't want to leave my sister. I don't have a phone number or mobile data to call. My school, and the hospital I went to, called CPS but they still haven't check on our house.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have been going through a lot with your mom for an extended period of time and it’s great you are reaching out for support. You deserve to live in a home where you feel safe, and we are here to help.

We aren't legal experts at NRS, but since you are a minor (under 1, a legal guardian would need to authorize an alternative living situation for you. Therefore, if you decided to run away and your mom files a report with the police, you would most likely be brought back home again. Running away isn't illegal, but something that can't be done as a minor (like smoking or gambling etc.). If you are ever feeling threatened, you can always call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation. Also, there are LGBT resources and supports available to you at the LGBT National Hotline which can be reached by calling 1-888-843-4564, or glbthotline.org

It may be most helpful for you to consider calling us at 1-800-786-2929 and speak with us so we can obtain more information from you about what’s going on. We are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. We can help find supportive resources for you as well as brainstorm a plan that will keep you safe.

Best of luck,
National Runaway Safeline

[Guest]

Hi I'm 15 and I want to live with my step sister's family.

my mom is emotional,controlling, and isolates me.My dad's is unreliable and emotion dependent. My Stepdad is Abusive ***hole.I can't take.
I live in NY so I can just have my stepsister mom adopt me

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to us, it seems like you are facing a lot at home that you shouldn’t have to go through. Parents should be supportive, not controlling or abusive. It seems like with abuse going on it may be worth considering filing an abuse report. If you want to know more you can go to childhelp.org for more information or call our hotline.
We aren’t legal experts so it may be possible for your stepsister’s mom to adopt you, but it may require government intervention beforehand. It may also be worth talking to someone at school, or another family member you trust that could help you sort out these feelings or support you. You should be supported by those around you and hopefully this information helps that happen. If you have more questions or just need to talk we are also available 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or through online chat.

[Guest]

my parents make me feel unwanted. they dont believe in bisexual they think it was a faze. They dont like that i have a bf. They think i cut just because, but i do because life sucks living with them. I was talking to my aunt about getting emancipated and living with her, but could that work?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you have been going through a difficult time. Having your parents think that you are just going through a phase can be hard. If you need to talk about this with someone who understands The LGBT National Hotline can be useful: 1888-843-4564.
Cutting yourself can be dangerous so we hope that you have a safety plan. If you would like mental health resources you can contact NAMI (national alliance on mental illnesses). They can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI,
It may be possible to become emancipated, but it usually takes a few months or more and can be costly. To find out more about emancipation you can call your local court house or call us for some legal aid resources.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options, please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

i’m 14 turning 15 in may and my parents have been divorced since i was 7. i’ve basically been manipulated and persuaded into harming myself by insults verbal and mental harassment and abuse. i want to live with my friends family because she’s genuinely amazing and her family is loving and accepting. my dad is a scary guy and my mom is NOT mentally stable. it would make life so much better and take away the suicidal thoughts from the picture. is it AT ALL possible to live with them?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, and sharing a little bit of your story with us.
It sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now. Home is supposed to be safe and welcoming, and it is unfortunate that is not the case in your situation. You do not deserve to be abused or manipulated and you do have a right to make a report. You can make an abuse report by calling Child Help at: 1800-422-4453. You can also call us and we would be happy to help you make a report. If you are ever in immediate danger please call the police.
You also mentioned having suicidal thoughts, and we want you to know your life is valuable and you are worth living. You do not have to deal with these thoughts alone, there is help out there. You can always contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: 1800-273-8255. There is always someone willing to listen and provide you support.
You also mentioned wanting to leave home, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could possibly happen. If you were to leave home, your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you back home. Also whoever you were to stay with could potentially get in trouble for harboring a runaway. If you do decide to leave and need somewhere safe please call us and we can try and help you look for a shelter.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide you support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

In 2017 I was took from my parents due to many things and moved with my aunt, she gave up on me and now I am living with my grandma along with my 17 year old sister.My grandma talks crap about me and she yells at me 24/7. My friends have heard her and I have recordings of her saying things too. I have ptsd from my parents being abusive and etc. and she makes it worst with the yelling, it gives me very very bad flashbacks...I'm scared to go eat or just leave my room period. My friend and her grandmother said they are willing to let me move in but I'm scared grandma will start drama and yell at me and get in my face or even hit me. She already threatens to send me to a foster home and I don't want to lose my sister and my cat. I don't know what to do and I need help.

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to post on our Bulletin and for sharing a bit about your situation. It sounds like you have been through a lot and its become overwhelming at home. You do not deserve to have anyone talk down to you or say hurtful things. Home is supposed to be somewhere you feel safe and supported.

It sounds like your friend and her grandmother are offering you a safe place to live where you would feel much more comfortable. The easiest way to leave home as a minor is with your guardian's permission. This would mean that your grandma gives you permission to live with your friend. Sometimes having an adult on your side to advocate for you can make communicating your needs more easier and ensure that the conversation stay calms. Perhaps your friend's grandmother can talk to your grandmother with you or on your behalf about you living with them.

Now, if you were to leave without permission, your grandmother can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal but it is a status offense. This means your grandmother can ask the police to return you home.

The way your grandma treats you does sound like it might be considered emotional abuse. You do have the option to report this to child protective services to involve a social worker to help. There is an organization called Child Help that can help you make the report and give you more information about what CPS might do to intervene. You can contact them at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelp.org.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I have a close friend who is 13. She lives with her mom, who abuses her daily, emotionally and physically. They struggle financially and she has no money to pay for college. Her dad lives on the other side of the world. (Her parents divorced). She has tried to commit suicide before, and I think she has depression. She has trouble sleeping too. I’m really worried about her. I don’t know what to do. I’ve told her to get help and tell adults about her mom but she won’t because she doesn’t want to get her mom in trouble. She also thinks the authorities won’t help. What would happen to her if her mom gets sent to jail? Could she come live with my family? I know she would be much happier away from her mom. Any advice is deeply appreciated

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It is great that you reached out on behalf of your friend, it shows that you are a supportive friend.
We are sorry to hear that your friend is going through such a difficult time right now, and they are not alone. They do have the right to make an abuse report, that wouldn’t necessarily mean that their mom would go to jail. Usually a case manager would be assigned to the case and they would help decide what services need to be provided. They can make an abuse report by calling Child Help at: 1800-422-4453. They can also call us and we can help them with making an abuse report. If your friend is ever in immediate danger please call 911.
Also dealing with suicidal thoughts and depression alone can be super difficult, and your friend does not have to deal with that alone. If they are ever feeling suicidal or just need someone to talk to they can call The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: 1800-273-8255. There is always someone willing to provide support and listen. Another good resource may be NAMI (national alliance for mental illnesses). They can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I am 15 and I want to move out. My father is a very bad alcoholic and he verbally, and physically abuses me. None of my family members are willing to take me in, but my best friend's family would. What do I have to do to move in with them legally?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

It took a lot of bravery to write a post on our bulletin to ask for help. It sounds like your dad is not making home a safe place. Abuse of any kind is not okay and it should not be happening. You deserve to live somewhere you feel safe and supported.

Two options to live away from your legal guardian are either getting your dad's permission to live with your friend's family or getting child protective services involved. Sometimes having an adult to advocate on your behalf can make communicating your needs more effective and easier. Perhaps your friend's parents can help you have a conversation with your dad about you living with them at least temporarily.

If you would like to learn more about making a report to child protective services, you can reach out to an advocate at an organization called Child Help. They have more expert knowledge on the reporting process and you can contact them at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelp.org. If you are removed from your dad's care it does not necessarily guarantee you would be placed with your friend's family, but a social worker can help to ensure you have a safe place to live.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

We wish you the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi

Im 15 and curently liiving with my parents. evrytime when i do good things like wash th dishes and take out the washing my mom always yells at me and im sick of it. Also on the other hand my dad. everytime my dad gets drunk he blames everything on me and i am sick of it. i am dealing with depression and the only way is to relive myself from depression is going for walks. but i havent been doing that cause my mom wants me to do everything

please help

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS. It seems like you have been going through a lot at home and feel as if there’s nothing you can do right. It’s understandable to feel sick of that kind of place when its causing you to feel depressed at home.
Its good that you have an outlet in going on walks, but it seems like having someone to talk to about these feelings may help as well. You could talk to a school counselor, or therapist about what is happening and they may have some ideas for how to cope. If you want help reaching out to on we can try and help with that if you call our hotline.
Another options to look into is more ways to cope with what is happening around you. This may be a new hobby, a book, or volunteering. Pretty much things that give you an excuse to be outside the house.
Hopefully this information is helpful, if you want more help or just need to talk you can always reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online.

[Guest]

Im 15 and i live with my mom and her parents. They r homophobic and im gay. In ways im menatly abused im allways geting yelled at or called names like being worthless. Its to much for me to handle and it affects my school work. I spend all my time trying to avoid going home and its exsausting.i have a freind and her family has told me if my situation gets bad enough they would let me love with them. Ik i have to get my mom to sign some paperwork but ik she wont. But i do need to get away from my family i cant live on like this for 4 more years.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. No one deserves to be mentally abused for any reason. Leaving home is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

Coming out can be a scary process since it requires a certain degree of vulnerability and holds a lot of uncertainty. Your bravery and resilience throughout this process is so admirable. It's disappointing that your parents are not supportive like they should be. You are not alone in this and the LGBT National Youth Talkline is a great resource that offers support for young people in similar situations to your own. The hotline is run by those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can reach them by calling 1-800-246-7743 or you can check out their website at gltbhotline.org. You can also check out the Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to helping LGBT teens, by calling 866-488-7386 or by going to thetrevorproject.org.

It seems like your parents aren’t fully understanding you when you are trying to relay your thoughts and feelings about how hurtful they have been. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your parents so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15 and I live in TX in a toxic household

I live with my grandparents and my grandmother keeps talking about me behind my back to my sister, 17, about how much they want me to leave and how much better their lives would be if I wasn't around. Last week I texted my friend to come pick me up so I can stay with her for a few days because my grandma said she wants me to leave. And as soon as they said they're on their way I told my grandmother. Her response was "No! You are NOT leaving! I haven't even met them!" and I told her that they will talk to her as soon as they come over. When they came over they were yelled at be my grandma and she yelled at them to "get the fu** off my property." My friends dad said that he wasn't trying to fight with her. But my grandma called the police and they left.

If they yell at me to leave and I try to leave, why wont they let me go?

My grandmother blames everything on my mental illness like I'm a psycho. All I have is depression and anxiety and a little bit of anger issues.

Also, when my sister talks back in a bit**y way then she isn't punished. But when I say something in a nice and calm way I get my phone taken away and get yelled at like I purposely stomped on someone's foot. Why am I treated so differently? I wanna be normal... I wanna be okay... But I can't when I'm here...

They degrade me and make me feel so worthless and useless... My brother tells me to kill myself sometimes... I don't want to though... I'm taking my pills again... but I dont think they're enough. My grandma took all my electronics away so I can't use my useful coping mechanisms. And I told her that I need my phone to feel better but she thinks all I do is stay on it and text my friends and do stupid teenager things and she thinks I'll "be so much happier without it" I'm better with it. Hell I stay in my room so they dont have to deal with me. I only come out of my room to eat and use the restroom but once I come out I get yelled at... I'm tired of it. I just wanna be happy... and the police said they can't do anything about it... they said "you have to deal with it until you're 18" And I've told them that yelling and screaming messes with my anxiety and it's a trigger but they don't care... they do it anyways.

I want to move out and live with my friend. I turn 16 in August.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. From reading your post it sounds like have been facing a lot of abuse in your household by your grandmother. No one deserves to be treated that way at all. You are very strong to go through something like that and still keep pushing and fighting for a better life for yourself. If it gets to the point where you feel like you are going to be physically harmed, to the point where it might land you in the hospital you have the right to report any abuse to child protective service in your state. You have rights too.

We do want to say that it must be very hard for you to have to go through all of this. It sounds like a very stressful situation for you at home and you find it hard to cope with certain things. You shouldn't be afraid to tell other people what you are thinking about doing especially if you are thinking about hurting yourself. You are certainly not alone in this and there are many many people that are here to help you. A good resource might be to call the ‘National Suicide Hotline’ for someone to talk about what thoughts you might be thinking at the time. Their number is 800.273.TALK. They also have an online chat service that might be of help to you especially if you don’t feel like calling in (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/). There is also “NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)” that you can reach out to as well (https://www.nami.org/help).

Since moving out under the age of 18 years old is such a common question that we get and can be easily found, we aren’t going to get into what would happen if you left without permission from your legal guardian. If you have some specific questions that you want to ask us or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now you can reach out to us via our 24-hour hotline and online chat.

It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on. Please rest assured that we are completing confidential. So anything that you share with us will stay between us.

[Guest]

Im 14 years old and I live in California. I want to go visit and live with my friend for a year in Georgia. Both of my parents allow it and my friends parents are ok with that too. I just want to live with him for a year and come back. What do I have to do? DO I have to sign papars or something like that?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are not legal experts, but we can speak generally on this. The easiest way to leave home as a minor and live somewhere else is with your parent or legal guardian's permission. From what you mentioned it sounds like your parents are willing to give you their permission and support with living with your friend for a year. It is not necessary, but it may be helpful for your parents to sign a document giving your friend's parents temporary guardianship rights. This would allow your friend's parents to enroll you in school, consent to emergency medical care, and act as your guardians while you are staying with them.

Now, if your parents do not approve of you staying with your friend and you leave without their permission, they can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal so you would not be arrested. But it is a status offense meaning your parents can involve police to help return you home.

We hope this information helps. If you have more questions or want to talk more about your situation, please do not hesitate to reach out to our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at 1800runaway.org.

We wish you the best,
NRS