Is it okay to run away if you are being abused.

[Guest]

How do I know if I’m being emotional abuse?

[ccsmod0]

You mentioned possibly experiencing emotional abuse.  Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise.  Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation.  That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share.  Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead.  The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help to get a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made.

We hope this helps. Please reach out if we can offer any further support.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I’m reaching out to know if I should run away. I am 15 and my mom is abusive she’ll slap me, pull my hair and choke me. She does more but I’m not going into it but she says also calls me horrible names and dictates the way I dress and calls me a w*#&$ and says I hope you get [email protected]*$^ for wearing that. She also says I’m lazy and a no good daughter and makes me hate myself because of it. My grades are low and I get that’s bad but every time the 50 or below she takes my phone and gets in my face and when I ask her to please stop that’s when she slaps me and treats me like I’m nothing. But then she plays victim saying she never does that and every one around her believes her over me. I really need help on what to do.

ive already sent y'all and email

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you are experiencing emotional and physical harm from your mom. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how to make a report and how a report might be handled by CPS.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. We want you to know that we are here to support you. If you need a space to talk please call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at https://www.1800runaway.org/. We are available 24/7

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

so where can i go if i do run away bc im 14 abd my life at home is very bad

[ccsmod15]

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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. 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

[Guest]

Hi, I am 12 years old and I get abused every day of my life. It is to the point where I have gotten bruises and my parents have even broken the skin. I have thought of just ending my life but I care about my friends. Is it okay for me to run away??

[ccsmod6]

Hi there,
Thanks so much for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We know that it takes a lot of strength to ask for help and we’re glad that you reached out. You don’t deserve abuse and we’re so sorry that you’re experiencing it. You mentioned fearing that your situation might end in suicide if things don’t change. Your life has worth and our top priority is your safety. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please consider calling 911 for assistance.
You asked whether it’s okay for you to run away. We can certainly understand why you’d want to leave home considering how your parents have been treating you. 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parents may file a runaway report with the police. This means that, at the very least, police would have to return you to your parents if they found you. While running away is not a crime, any legal adult who allows you to stay with them could be charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.
If you need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you. This organization provides immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. So that is always an option if you feel like you need somewhere safe to go and talk to somebody.
Considering the extent of the abuse you face at home, filing an abuse report is certainly also an option for you. In general, once abuse has been reported, social services will decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (you stay in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove you from the home and offer certain services).
If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.
You do not have to face this alone, and there is so much help out there for you. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide Hotline could be a good resource for you. You can check them out at www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help and support any time.
If you would like to talk more in detail about your situation to discuss your options, you can call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). If you’re unable to call in, you can also chat with use through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon,
NRS

[Guest]

Is it okay for my girlfriend to run away from her abusive parents? They trashed her room, yell at her everyday for no reasons, they don't feed her everyday, they took her door off the wall, took her phone away, she's a straight A student, does her and her brothers chores, helps her parents with everything, is a hard worker, very smart, never gets in trouble. Her parents gets drunk alot and smoke all the time, her dad has hit her 2 year old baby brother, her mom has beaten her while drunk. Her dad touched her inappropriately. Her brothers are always hitting her and she wants me to go to her state to pick her up. Would it be illegal for me to get her? We've been dating for almost 2 years now, I'm 16 and she's 14. I did alot of research and it says that when running away from an abusive household, if the runaway is staying at a relative or friend's house it's not illegal unless their being forced to stay. I told my mom about everything that she's going through, and mom said she called child protective services, but my girlfriend lives in Oklahoma, and she and many of her friends said in Oklahoma CPS never does anything. What should I do?

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks ever so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry that your girlfriend's situation has been so difficult. Please know that it is never ok for anyone to make your girlfriend feel unsafe at home. She deserves to live in a space where she feels safe. It sounds like she's thinking about leaving home because she feels unsafe at home with her parents and brothers, but you both have questions about the legality of her leaving and whether you can pick her up. We are not legal experts, but we will share information that may help you figure out your next steps.


It sounds like you have been a great source of support for your girlfriend, and you've done your best to research the best ways to help her. Making a call to CPS is a good first step, and if your girlfriend has continued to experience abuse since your mom called child protective services, your girlfriend has the right to continue reporting as new incidents happen. Whether CPS does anything that your girlfriend feels is helpful really depends on how her state handles reports, but it is still helpful for your girlfriend to document the abuse with them. If she does not know how to reach them, organizations like Child Help, available at 1-800-422-4453 or by visiting www.childhelp.org/ can help you identify your local agency and make a report if you would like to. Regarding leaving home, from what we understand, in some states, it is technically not illegal to run away, but it is considered a status offense in some states. If your girlfriend leaves without consent, her parents or legal guardians can file a runaway report with their local police department. Each police department has discretion to handle reports as they see fit, but typically, if a youth runs away and is located, they would be returned to their parent/legal guardian. The best way to confirm how the process works in your girlfriend's area is to call her local police at their non emergency number in Oklahoma and asking them directly. If she is hoping to permanently live somewhere else with another adult/legal guardian, it may help to reach out to someone familiar with the laws in your girlfriend's state, like a local legal aid agency, so that they can outline what your girlfriend's options might be. If you need help identifying resources, or just want to talk about the situation, either you or your girlfriend are welcome to reach out to us.

Whatever either of you decide, please know that we are here to support you both. We cannot tell you what to do, but we will do our best to support you both as you figure out your next steps. We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. 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). We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I’m 12 and my mom has been abusing me on occasion for me doing bad things. She tries to justify harming me by saying “I know what I did was wrong, but I lost my ********.” She has chocked me, dragged me down hallway by my hair, punched me, beat me on the head with a brass door Handel, and told me to get off her property and an hour later required me to come home. She lies to people and me sometimes saying these things never happened or that I am over exaggerating. She also emotionally abused me. Belittles me, yells constantly, and makes me feel insecure and unsafe. I want to run away and live with my friend but I know she would never let me. What do I do? Please help.

[ccsmod9]

Hi thank you for reaching out to NRS, we know that it takes a lot of bravery to do that. At NRS, we are here to talk through potential options for leaving an abusive household. Some of these options might include: contacting school personal, filing a CPS report, talking to an adult, finding youth shelters, and talking through a run away plan. Only you know your situation best, and so we are here to support you as you talk about your situation and explore potential options together. We recognize that this must be very challenging but wish you nothing but the best. You are welcome to chat us through this website, or call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY) 24/7. We are rooting for you.

[Guest]

im 14 and my mom has been abusing me mentally and physically because im gay. i recently called the police and they said i was being an asshole.right after they left she began to beat me
i have somewhere safe, my friends house they will let me stay i just dont wanna stay at home because i don't feel safe here.

[ccsmod11]

(If you feel you are in immediate danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi,
Thanks so much for reaching out. First of all, we’re so sorry to hear about what’s going on at home, and that the police did not help you. You deserve to feel safe and accepted at home, and you do not deserve to be treated the way you currently are.

It sounds like you are being abused at home. If you would like to, you can file an abuse report yourself against your mom and an investigation can be launched. This report would be completely anonymous. Feel free to do some research on your own if you’re interested in learning more, or we would love to chat with you here at NRS to walk you through the process.

It is great to hear that you have supportive friends that would be willing to let you stay with them. If you do choose to leave home, here are some important things to know:

If you do choose to leave home without your mom’s permission, she could choose to file a runaway report with the police. The police will then find you and bring you home. Although you wouldn’t get in any trouble with the law, there is a possibility that any person you are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a criminal charge. This issue goes away once you turn 18, since in most states you will be considered an adult.

The way to get around this would be to get written permission from your mom (an email, text, note, etc) stating that you can stay with your friend. That way if they decide to press charges, you have proof that they gave you permission.

We also want to say that we’re really sorry that you don’t feel accepted in your home because of your sexuality. Although you may not be supported there, we support you here at the NRS! If you ever need to speak to someone about this, we love The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/). You’ll be able to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through.

We also want to stress how important self-care is during this time. Please reach out to your trusted support network for guidance and a listening ear, and practice hobbies that relax you. Maybe this is writing, watching a favorite TV show, or running around your neighborhood. Taking care of your mind and body will help you be better prepared to face your situation.


We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help. Please feel free to reach out to us directly any time to talk to a real person. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-880-9860). Best of luck!

[Guest]

I ran away from home and I don't have anywhere to stay and I don't want to go home what do I do my mom hits me

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We are so sorry that things at home got so tough for you. It sounds like you did what was best to help you stay safe, and you ran away from home. Please know that it is never ok for anyone to hit you. You deserve to live in a space where you feel safe. We cannot tell you what to do, but we can share information that may help you figure out your next steps.

It is never ok for anyone, including your mom, to hit you. You have the right to report any abuse that goes on at home. Places like the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. They offer support to youth in the U.S. and Canada, and can talk to you about your options relating to the situation at home with your mom. They can be reached at childhelphotline.org/ or by calling their hotline at (800) 422-4453. If you have already left your home, it may help to try to call a friend or family member to see if they are able to let you stay while you figure out your next steps.

If you feel like you might need help finding a shelter or other resources to support you, please feel free to reach out to us so we can find information more specific to your area. You can reach us by phone or chat. 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.

We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

[Guest]

Im 16 and I want to run away because i am getting Miss treated my grandma said i can but my mom and dad won't let me , and my dad has court going on because he got into a bad car reck and its 2nd degree manslaughter and hes ruining my life, my mother has slapped me in the face more times then i can count i always go to my grandma and talk to her about it , and i stay in contact with my real dad and he said she shouldnt do that, i wanna run away and start a new life

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like there is a lot going on and you are wanting to get away. It is never okay for your mom to slap you in the face. It sounds like your dad has some legal issues going on and it might be making things worse at home. It does seem like grandma is a good support in your life and even somewhere you go to, to get away. It could be an option to see if staying with grandma could be a longer term possibility. We are here to help and support as best as we can, if you would like to talk more about what you are experiencing or some possible options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS