Can I run away and still go to school?

[Guest]

Hello, I was wondering if someone were to run away from their home, can they still go to school if that person were to run away to a different state? I'm not planning on running away, I'm just asking for a friend

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like your friend is having a difficult time right now at home. It’s not against the law to run away, but it’s a status offense. You don’t say where your friend would stay when they run away, but shelters will generally have to notify your friend’s parents after a couple of days. Also, it’s illegal to for anyone to harbor a runaway. If your friend’s parents file a runaway report for your friend this will compel the police to bring your friend back home -- especially if the parents know where he/she is.

We are not legal experts, but generally to attend school, you’ll need a parent or legal guardian to register -- or at least their written permission.

Another option could be to look into the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which ensures educational rights and protections for youths experiencing homelessness. To get some help to see if your friend qualifies for this assistance, please use this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page to locate the “State Coordinators for Homeless Education” for the state your friend is planning to run away to: https://nche.ed.gov/states/state_resources.php

Thank you again for reaching out to us and for being so supportive of your friend going through this difficult time. If your friend has any concerns about leaving home that he or she would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to call us at the National Runaway Safeline. You can reach us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

[Guest]

i want to run away but i have no where to go i have been put with my auntie but i keep having panic attacks and breakdowns i hate it here. but if i run away i still want to go to school. the school would register me and my auntie will know where i am. what do i do. i'm really scared and i feel like i can trust no one, i am alone i'm sick of seeing social workers and police but if i run away all my friends would rat me out, all my siblings live with my parents but i hate my parents they hurt each other and scream at everyone ...
but talking with my auntie would be even worse because she would scream and shout at me she would stop me from seeing my mates and she would take away all my belongings apart from my bed and my chair. i also am very paranoid and i see things that scare me. years ago in the middle of the night i would see a man in the corner of the room then he would see me looking at him and scream, a minute later my wrists would be bleeding but it wouldn't hurt. i thought it might be a hallucination because the blood would never be there in the morning

someone help me tell me how to avoid getting hurt!!!!!!

[ccsmod6]

First of all, apologies for the delay in getting back to you. You have a lot going on, and we truly want you to be safe and not get hurt, so thanks so much for reaching out.
It sounds like you’ve been removed from your parents house – where it wasn’t a good environment since they hurt each other – and have been placed at your aunt’s, where is also not a good place since she threatens you and you can’t talk to her... The panic attacks, breakdowns, imagining a person in your room or bleeding, fear and paranoia are all very serious things and difficult to deal with on your own, so it would be very important to get help. Besides social workers, have you talked to anyone about it, like a counselor or therapist that you feel understands you? If you think that’s a good idea, please call us at 1-800-runaway and we can offer you referrals in your city.
It’s great that you want to keep going to school, but you’re right when you say that if you run it will be harder to go. Your parents or aunt would track you down, and the Police would have to bring you back home.
It’s not okay to deal with all that you have going on by yourself, it’s really hard – and it would be great if you could get help from someone knowledgeable and whom you can trust. We’re here 24/7 for you, please call us when you have a few minutes, ok? And in the meantime, if you have any thoughts about hurting yourself, please call 1-800-273-8255, and remember that you are super important and have your whole life ahead of you! Stay strong.

[Guest]

I am not happy with my life at home i was wondering if i can runaway to Florida i'm in Tennessee and go to school there will they catch me? How do i sign up for school there i am home school right now. If i runaway at 12 or my birthday is in like a week March 18, 2005 and i come back at 18 and try to get a job what will happen will they bring me back to my parents or can i stay since i'm legally 18

[ccsmod16]

Hello,

Thanks for sharing your story with us, we will do our best to answer your questions.

First things first, it is not illegal for you to run away from home, but it is considered a “status offense”. This means that it is not a crime to run away, but the police will return you to your parents’ home if they find you. This is because until you turn 18, your parents are legally required to provide you with food, shelter, clothing and medical care. If you feel unsafe returning to your parents’ home or feel that these needs are not met in your parent’s home, you can file an abuse report which might begin the process of finding an alternative living situation for you if the investigation finds that it is unsafe for you to continue living there. We will say that once a youth turns 18, in most states that is the legal age of majority and can no only be forced to go home or stay there if they choose not to.

As far as enrolling in school from what we know, it might be hard for you to register for school without a guardian and the proper paperwork needed from your old school. So without either your parents present or even some documentation that states that someone else can register you in school, it might be hard. It is important that the person you are planning on running away to in Florida is someone you know well and can trust to provide a safe and secure home until you turn 18. Should things not go as planned, it’s important to have some sort of back-up plan to stay safe and off the streets.

If you want to talk about what about your life in Tennessee makes you unhappy, we encourage you to call us at 1-800-RUN-AWAY (786-2929). We want to listen to your story and help you explore all your options for changing your situation. There may be other ways of changing your situation other than running away.

Take care,
National Runaway Safeline

[Guest]

im homeschooled and i want to runaway to japan i have plenty of money and i am confident i can get a job

[ccsmod0]

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to write to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have a question that a lot of our other users have, about being able to leave home to another county. We have attached a link to the thread.

https://bulletinboards.1800runaway.org/forum/categories/relationships/6910-running-away-to-another-country

In addition to being available online, we have a 24/7 hotline and are always here to provide additional support and resources. It sounds like you have a lot to think through and we are here to help you process it. Please do not hesitate to call. 1800-786-2929
Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 17 turn 18 in November I ran away from home due to the fact of being mistreated and threatened all the time and still want to maintain school.I am a excellent students you should say.Well not to get to much into that what should I do?Las Vegas,Nevada

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes courage to seek help. We are very sorry to hear that you were mistreated at home. It sounds like you want to continue to go to school. You could contact the National Center for Homeless Education (1-800-308-2145) for more information on what options you have for enrolling in school. If you have any questions, please feel to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat if you have any additional questions or just want to talk.

[Guest]

I move schools a lot and I hate it. The older I get, the harder it is to make friends. My parents don't really like me and in May my dad went through my phone (because he was hitting my sister and I started crying) and found bad messages between me and my boyfriend. I do regret the messages but then my dad beat me and is making me move schools and live with my mom who is always busy and mad. She yells at me a lot. My dad is always gone and I really hate him. All he does is hit me and my sisters. Luckily, my little sisters have never been seriously hurt, but with the incident in May my arm was bruised and I could barely move it. I've been planning to runaway for a while but now I really want to, before school starts. I have to places I can go to but 1. is my boyfriend's house, and his family knows about me and my situation but he says that they won't let me stay, even if it's just for some food, and 2. my other best friend said I can stay at his house BUT i don't feel like his parents will let me stay long enough to go to school. also i'm pretty sure my parents have already unregistered from me from that school. i'm pretty sure whether i stay with a friend or go to a shelter, there is no realistic way for me to go to school where i want. also if I tell the police my dad is abusive (my mom just yells at us sometimes) will they take him to jail? if they don't think he's abusive will they give me back to him? i really just want somewhere to stay until i can try and move out and live on my own when i turn 16. i'm just really scared and worried and hoping that you guys can help. thank you sm

[ccsmod6]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re dealing with so much right now between the violence you go through at home, the conflicts you’re having with your parents, and your uncertainty about where and how you will go to school. You don’t deserve to be treated like that or physically hurt no matter what. Your strength to still keep going through all of this is amazing. It seems like what you’re looking for is ways to get out of the situation you’re in now. You mentioned you were thinking about reporting the way your father treats you to the police or Child Protective Services and were wondering what would happen. Generally CPS will do an investigation and if they find that you are in immediate danger, they could remove you and your sisters. Depending on what they find, they might also work with your family on finding healthier ways of dealing with conflict and anger. We’re not legal experts so it’s hard to say all of what would happen in that situation with certainty. If you’d like to report it, it might help to keep track of any evidence, like pictures of bruises or things like that. If you have further questions or concerns about reporting or would like to know who to call to make a report, you can call the national child abuse hotline, ChildHelp, at 1-800-422-4453. You can also call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk about it further, and if you’d like, we can walk you through the reporting process and make it with you. If you are going to be attending school, you can also reach out to your school’s social worker, or counselor if they don’t have a social worker. These people are trained to help students through these kinds of situations. In the meantime, it might help to think of ways you can spend as little time at home as possible, such as doing clubs or sports at school, going for walks, or auditioning for a play or musical. If you’d like to discuss your situation in more detail or talk about additional ideas, feel free to call us 24/7 or reach out through our chat line. We wish you the best.

[Guest]

I'm planning to run away but I don't know when yet. My family state right now has been affecting with my mental illness and I've talked to my mom about it but she hasnt given me any advice. And I dont want to live with my dad. I've been saving up money just incase if one day I decide to leave I will be able to. My friend is letting my stay at there house for a few days then I will be leaving to Florida. I have a very close friend over there that will let me live with them until I get a job to buy own house. I am currently 16 and I was wondering if I move to Florida, with all my transcripts and legal documents, will I be able to attend and finish high school?

[ccsmod10]

Hi, thanks for reaching out to NRS, we’re here to listen and to help. It sounds like you are in a tough spot – that you feel like your family situation is not good for the mental illness you shared, that you haven’t found the support/advice from your mom that one might reasonably expect from their parent, and that you’re not comfortable living with dad. We’re glad to hear that you have the support of a friend who is letting you stay there a few days while you figure things out, and a close friend in Florida who also wants to help you out – support is important.

You mentioned saving up money in case your situation got bad enough that you need to leave, and that you’re planning to go but not sure when yet – both of which speak to the level of maturity you’re showing by really thinking about having a plan to support yourself if/when that day comes, and making sure that you can keep yourself safe. Your safety is very important to us, and so we’re happy to hear that.

It sounds like you’ve also been in touch with your close friend in Florida, who would be willing to let you live there until you can get a job/afford your own place – and that you’d like to know if you moved down there, if you’d be able to transfer your documents and transcripts – all good questions to ask, that again speak to having a plan in place which is important. It’s also good that you’re thinking about your education and how to continue that.

Regarding the transcripts and legal documents –you may want to consider checking with your school about what would be required to do so. It may be good to find out if they require a parent or legal guardian’s signature to release that type of information, since your school records are likely confidential. You may be able to ask your counselor about how that works. You could also inquire with a school that you are looking to transfer into, to see what their requirements are to work with the previous school you attended.

You may also want to consider exploring what the potential legal consequences of leaving to Florida without a guardian’s consent might be – while we’re not legal experts, broadly speaking, while you wouldn’t face serious consequences legally, anyone of legal age with whom you live once there could face more severe legal ramifications, like harboring a minor. It’s important that you discuss that with anyone you may be going to stay with. Or, to find out if your mom would allow you permission to go there.

You may also want to find out how much you would need financially to support yourself for an extended period of time – in case where you want to stay doesn’t work out, so that you have a backup plan and are prepared. We have a database of youth and transitional living shelters that might be helpful if you wanted to explore that as a possible option. Or, there is an organization called National Safe Place (nationalsafeplace.org) to help you find emergency resources in a crisis – you just text SAFE and your address, city, state of your current location to 4HELP (44357).

We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you’d like to explore these options further or brainstorm other options, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or contact us via our online chat room. Best of luck to you.

[Guest]

So my mom and dad treat me like ******** and I’m ready to leave , what do I do?? I really need to know .

[ccsmod9]

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]

So i feel like my mom is very toxic for me and she is slowly ruining everything about me so i want to run away but my bsf who was my neighbour moved and have no one else and no money what do i do?

[ccsmod0]

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It can be difficult asking for help and we are glad you reached out. It sounds like you are going through a very tough situation.

NRS does offer conference calls where we have a trained staff member/volunteer mediate conversations between guardians and minors. If you are interested in this service, feel free to call in. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and our email is [email protected]. If you would be interested in shelter resources in your area, or would like more information regarding your specific situation, feel free to call in or email/message us. If you are a minor, your legal guardians could file a runaway report if you do choose to run away. This would be a status offence and you might be taken back to your legal guardians if you are picked up by the police.

Thank you again for contacting us. If you would like to talk more about this situation, please feel
free to reach us by phone or chat. Our hotline is 24/7 and toll free.

[Guest]

Hi, I am 16 years old. My parents are grade A ********, they yell at me for everything I do and physically abuse me, I am about done with their bs but I still want to go to the same school I go to know, what can I do? Furthermore could my parents track my phone if I choose to take it with me. Will there also be places that I can stay at for one night and leave in the morning because I never want anyone to find me. Also if my parents do find me can they make me go back home with them. As of now I have got temporary accomodation but there will be times which i would have to leave but in terms of ID I haven't got a driver licence but is there any way of me getting one without a guardian?
Thanks

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live into a home with so much tension. No one deserves to feel unsafe where they live and no one has the right to abuse you. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. 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. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

If you do opt to leave your home your parents can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If your parents file a runaway report and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned home. It’s important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. If you have a place to go in mind, it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. This can all influence your decision to leave.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am thinking about running away because my dad wants to send me back to live with my mom, because he doesn't want me living with him any more. If I go back to my moms, I will not have the same opportunities that I have here, and I have less of a chance to go to college. I am 16, turning 17 soon, I have a job, and a bike. Do you think I can survive the rest of high school and maybe make it to college by being on my own?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like you’re in a tough spot right now; seems like a lot of your situation is dependent on what is going on with custody between your parents. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I want to runaway, I have a place I could stay and still go to school which is definitely something I’d still want to do. I’m 15 and my mom would most likely (like 90% chance) call the cops and say I ran away- both of my parents are verbally/mentally abusive and I can’t make it till I’m 18 being that I’ve been dealing with it since I was about 13. I don’t know if it’s even worth it because I’m not sure if I told the cops the situation if they could/ would even do anything about it let alone take my side. I don’t want to leave knowing that if the police brought me home things would get even worse and I would get punished, but I also can not deal with this any longer

[ccsmod9]

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. . It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. 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 to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org 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 you trust as far as transferring custody.
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]

i am younger then most people who think of running away but i really don't know what to do i have not really known my real dad but i do know my step dad he keeps saying that im always in a bad mood and saying im treating my family terrible even tho i'm not but now i have grown sick of it and i want to run away from it and all the other problems and drama in my life but i don't know where i can or will go but still be able to go to school.
pleas tell me my options of what i can do and any quick way of getting there.

[Guest]

Hi I’d rather not say my name but I’m 13 and I have been mentally abused, physically abused, and ignored by my parents for most of my life. My dad is ok but even then he still sometimes treat me like I’m worthless. I’m think about running away but I want to continue my education.

How do you go to online school without parental consent?

How do I get a phone without a parental consent.

How owe do I get an I.D when it comes to it.

I would be grateful for a response.
Thank you.

[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 - you deserve to be safe in your own home. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned that there was some physical abuse going on at home. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. 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. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

can i run away from home and still go to school? i want to go to school and get my drivers license soon. enough. ??

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are not legal experts but we do have general information that may be helpful to you. If you do runaway your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police do find you they most likely would bring you home. You may be able to attend school but it is a possibility that the police will look for you at your school. As far as getting a license you would need a parent or legal guardian present for you to obtain your license.
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