I want to runaway

[Guest]

I've been planning on running away for a few years now, and I am planning to once I'm 16 in a few months.
I want to runaway because I have not felt safe in my home for years due to various mental and occasional physical abuse, I went to CPS multiple times and they've done nothing to help, occasionally just making it worse.
I was just wondering if I could get an online job and go to an online school if I runaway? Also would running away from home make me unable to go to college?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope someone will respond.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, and sharing your story with us. It seems like you have gone through a lot of difficult things over the years. And it is very unfortunate to hear that CPS has done nothing to help and made things worse at times.
You mentioned wanting to runaway which is a very big decision for you to make. We are not legal experts but do have some information. If you were to run away your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police do find you they may bring you back home. There are a lot of online schools with different regulations. So it may be a good idea to do research and figure out if it would be possible to enroll without a parent’s permission. Also it may be possible to get an online job but they may need an address to send your paychecks too.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to support you. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

That's why I'm here, for advice.
Is there any chance I can attend public school after running away from home then? The job I can figure out on my own, but I what to know I will still be able to make something of myself.
I know running away from home is a big decision, but I honestly don't feel safe at home and haven't for years.

[ccsmod9]

Thank you so much for reaching out to us, we’re glad that you’re taking the time to figure these things out. It sounds like you’re really focused and motivated, and like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. No one deserves to feel like they aren’t safe in their home, you deserve better than that.

We aren’t legal experts here at the National Runaway Safeline, but there are a couple possible outcomes for running away. It could be difficult being in public school as a minor if you do runaway. It’s possible that you could run into problems if/when you need a school form signed by a parent, or if there’s a runaway report filed, the police could potentially find you through the school. While running away isn’t illegal, if you plan on staying with someone, they could get into legal trouble. If your parents consent to you leaving, there’s nothing that the police or school could do to take you home. You can always call your local police’s non-emergency number and ask them all of this to get a better legal perspective. As for school, you could always talk to your school guidance counselor/social worker to help lead into that process. If you aren’t feeling safe at home, even though it can sound intimidating, you could make a report. You could do this with us over the phone, through your school, or through the police.

There’s a lot that goes into running away, and you don’t have to think through it alone. If you would like to discuss your situation or possible outcomes more, we’re available 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). We also have a chat feature available online at https://www.1800runaway.org/. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, and good luck with everything