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I am 15 turning 16 in a few weeks and i have ran away from my dads house many times before. My older sibling has gone to court with me in order to get guardian ship and we lost. I had ran away from my dads house December 2021 and we are now in September 2022. I will not go back to his house he is abusive and he bolted the windows and constantly followed me and everything he put me through i am terrified of him and i suffer with many mental illness now. I currently live with the same older sibling and i am enrolled in school and i am in a different state right now. I am marked as a runway in the state that my dad is in and he has a private investigator that is also trying to look for me. I want to be able to get a job and get an ID, my question is, will the job i apply for find out i am a runaway in a different state and will i be able to work if i do not live with my dad ? I want to get a job but i don’t know if i need parents permission. I want a job to save up money but i am also trying to hide out until i turn 18 so my dad can’t find me. I have endured abuse from him since i was 13-14 ish and i want this to be over. Idk what to do. Thanks.
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Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We really appreciate you reaching out as we know it takes a lot of courage.
We are sorry to hear that you were experiencing abuse by your dad at home. You do not deserve to be treated that way and are glad you are now safe and have your sibling in your life. As you have mentioned, legally your dad can still find you and bring you home, but we cannot tell you if that would happen or not given that you are in another state. One option is to file a child abuse report. If you are interested in this path, we can help you fill one out.
In terms of your question about jobs, we cannot say for sure what would happen if you get a job and whether or not they would find out about you being a runaway/require you to live with your dad. Generally, jobs have different requirements. That being said, minors are allowed to have jobs, so talking to different employers could help you figure out their requirements. Also, talking with a friend, a teacher, school counselor, or people your sibling might know about jobs could help.
It is important that you take care of yourself. Talking with school counselor, teacher, or another trusted adult can be super helpful along with other coping mechanisms. You can listen to music, journal about what is going on, exercise, take a walk, draw, or just do an activity that makes you feel good.
We know that this response may not be satisfying as there is not a guaranteed answer to your question. If you would like to talk in more detail, please contact NRS either by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting online through 1800runaway.org. We can help you work through some options.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS
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I'm planning on running away from home soon, but I want to be able to have a job so I can take care of myself. I have a plan and a place to stay but I need a method of funds that's legal and untraceable by my parents and law enforcement. Can anyone help?Comment
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Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did.
It sounds like you have made some plans which includes a place to stay. We hope that that place is with people you have met in person and that they are safe to be with.
As far as working, if you have your Social Security Number and birth certificate to prove that it is legal for you to work, you probably can, if it's legal in your state to work as a minor without parental permission.
Ask to get your pay by a paper check, and you might be able to cash it at a currency exchange with an ID.
Running away is really hard with many problems to solve. We hope you might reach out to us either by chat through this website, or by calling our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) 24/7 to talk this all over.
We truly hope to hear from you soon,
NRS
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I am 12 and am planning on running away because I feel like a disappointment and a burden but I have no money and need to know where I can get a job and stay at night.Comment
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Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did.
It sounds like things feel really hard at home for you. Feeling like a disappointment and a burden are very hard feelings to have and to hold. We would like to talk with you and to support you with the way you are feeling and to talk more about your situation.
The hard part is that running away at 12 isn't really possible, because you can't get a job. But we are here to listen and help and to help you figure out things you can do to feel better at home. That really is possible.
We truly hope you will chat us through this website, or call us at 1-800-786-2929
Sincerely,
NRS
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I'm 13 and want to run away. I love my family and I know they care about me but I think it would be better if I left. I'm planning years ahead because I don't actually plan to leave until I am 15 or 16. I am worried because I have everything planned out except for how I'm supposed to get a job. I really wanna support myself but I don't wanna get found.Comment
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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at NRS. It sounds like you are experiencing a tough time right now. We’re so sorry to hear that, but it’s great that you love your family and know they care about you.
You have valid concerns regarding the potential challenges and barriers you may face if you were to leave. You’re right to recognize that it would be challenging to get a job, since you can’t get a job without your parents’ signed permission until about 16 years old, depending on the state where you live.
Since you’re planning to have some time, you could consider first planning a time for your family to talk about why you know they care about you and why you think it would be better if you left. We would be delighted to have a more personal, direct conversation with you about this, so that we can talk more about everything you mentioned and better support you. Please feel welcome to contact us through phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or through our online chat option, found on our website at www.1800runaway.org.
Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.
We wish you the best,
NRS
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