Ranaway right before 18

[Guest]

So Is there someplace i can go to, to get some help i live in austin and my parents have completely disobandoned me

[ccsmod3]

Re: Ranaway right before 18

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Switchboard. We are sorry to hear that your parents have left you with no place to go. We are not legal experts here, but generally parents have a responsibility to provide their children with a place to stay or an alternative until they become of age. If they fail to do this, many times Child Protective Services (CPS) will consider this neglect. It sounds like you are not quite 18, so in most states that would mean you are still a minor. Even if your parents have reported you as a runway, how the police respond can vary. In some states, the police will take a report for 17-year-olds, but they may not actively look. Some police will take youth home at 17, while others will not. Again, we are by no means legal experts, but we have provided some legal aid numbers below.

Texas Rural Legal Aid, Inc. – Austin Office
(512) 447-7707
Toll Free/ Hotline (800) 369-9270

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
(512) 476-5550
Toll Free/ Hotline (800) 707-5550

We have also provided a shelter resource in your area since you wondering where you can go. Shelters vary with their requirements, but for minors they generally require parental consent or notification anywhere from immediately to 72 hours. Many are temporarily and try and help the youth come up with a longer term solution which may mean talking to your parents and/or CPS.

Life Works
(512) 441-6914
http://www.lifeworksweb.org

We hope these resources can be of help and if you need anything else you are welcome to call us anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY. If you do not feel comfortable trying some of these resources on your own, we are able to advocate for you by conference calling social service agencies. For example, if you need a shelter immediately, we can stay on the line with you and be there for support. We wish you the best of luck.

-NRS