Can I run away and still go to school?

[Guest]

I want to run away but I want to continue school so I can have a good life outside of home. My dad is completely out of my life and has been for about a year now and my mom is verbally and emotionally abusing me and giving me punishments for things I can’t control and I just don’t want to deal with it anymore. I have diagnosed anxiety depression and ptsd a lot of which is because of her and my dad and all I want to do now is just leave so I don’t end up killing myself anymore. I only have one person I’m living for and I just want to leave with him but he won’t say yes and I want to have a successful life but I don’t know how I can without education. I just want to be happy and I think running away will help but I don’t know about it for in the long run.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your parent’s permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m running away and heading to California, but I want to finish high school, only two more years, I don’t know if I can find somewhere their and sign me up for school. Will that work?

I live in Ohio

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to sign up for school without a guardian signing for you. If you are able to prove homelessness, you might be able to enroll in school as a homeless or independent minor. To learn more about that process you might reach out to the National Center for Homeless Education's Helpline: 1-800-308-2145 to link up with the homeless education liaison in California.

If you would would to talk more about your situation please do not hesitate to call or chat us: 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

My dad is abusive and my every action seems to make my mother angry. I feel like a failure, a disappointment, useless. I think running away make all of their lives better. I used to be the favorite child but then my stupid little brothers came along and made me the middle child. I have two older siblings both the same age, they make fun of me and sometimes hit me. My little brothers are very young and they don't like me at all. If i do something wrong, my mother yells at me and then my dad hits me til I bleed. I can't take it anymore and I have to run away. Good day/noon/afternoon/evening/night/morning.

[ccsmod4]

My dad is abusive


Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
It sounds like there is a lot that you are going through right now and you’re thinking about running away.
We understand how frustrated you must feel right now. It’s probably pretty tough feeling like you are not sure just where you fit in. You are very strong person for talking and expressing the way that you feel. Good for you.
Being abused is not your fault. You don’t deserve to have this happen and you should know that there are laws to protect minors against abuse. If things continue to escalate and you feel at risk and would like to file an abuse report you may do so by contacting Child Help USA at: 1-800-422-4453
NRS can also assist with filing a child abuse report and assist with trying to locate a safe emergency shelter. We can also assist with trying to locate family crisis counseling services through our data base. You did a great job reaching out today.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of.

We are here as support to you during this challenging time.
If you or you would like to talk more in detail we can best help by phone or chat.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). Please call or chat soon.

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 9-1-1 or seek emergency assistance immediately.


Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

So Im 17 And i turn 18 in 8 months and 1 week ( im counting down the days). I made some mistakes and now my parents left me with 2 options get arrested or join the military over the past few years even though im 17 my parents make me feel like im still just a 10 year old kid. So ive decided to make the conscious decision to leave home tonight my friend says he can help me out but what im most worried about is my education could I sign up for online classes or would it be better to wait until im 18 and get my GED, also I will be leaving with 2 forms of identification on me (my license and ssn card) and will be looking for a job that either pays under table or wont mind hiring a run away. Any information to both of these problems would be greatly appricaited.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a really difficult time right now.
We are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws for you. If you were to leave home before turning 18 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 mentioned how you are worried about your education. You would need to contact your school and ask them if you could transfer your credits to take classes online or how to go about continuing your education. Also jobs would not be able to tell if you are a runaway as it is not a criminal offense.
We hope this information will be useful to you in your situation. If you have any other question or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I’m currently 14

my household is honestly pretty great on the outside but it’s not the same in the inside. It’s nothing serious but I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to make it to my 15th birthday. I’ve grown up with serious mental help issues and have been trying to kill myself since I was 10. I stopped harming myself last year but the problem is rising again. I’ve told my parents about my depression and suicidal tendencies but they refuse to take me to any therapist. I’m also transgender and my parents are very strict Christians. They threatened to kick my older sister out of the house for coming out as gay a few years back. My mom gets pretty heated whenever there’s an argument between her and me. She’ll sometimes curse at me and call me harsh names. I want to know if I run if I’ll be able to attend another school or join an orphanage without my parents knowing. If things do not go to well within the next month then I’ll either take my life or run away.

[ccsmod7]

Hello, we are glad that you have decided to reach out to us. We are so sorry to hear about your current situation, it must be very difficult for you to go through this. You deserve validation for your gender choice, it is a beautiful thing that you have discovered a part of who you are. It must be hard to deal with your mom cursing at you and calling you names, you do not deserve to be treated like that.

We would like to offer you praise for coming to us about your suicidal tendencies, it takes a lot to ask for help and you are so brave in doing so. If you ever find your life in immediate danger then we would like to urge you to call 9-1-1. If you are ever interested in speaking with someone about suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24-7 and free to call for confidential emotional support and their number is 1-800-273-8255. You asked if you could run away and still attend school, although we are not legal experts here at NRS we can offer a potential resource that may help in that area. The resource is the National Center for Homeless Educational Helpline and their number is 1-800-308-2145. Along with these resources, we would like to provide our own as well, our number is 1-800-786-2929 and we are also available 24-7. If you ever find yourself in the position of contemplating running away or have already run away please do not hesitate to call us. We offer guidance and support, resources you may need and can help you come up with a safe plan of action as well.

Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. Your life is valuable and precious, and you are trying to figure out your options which is amazing to see. If you would like to talk further about your situation, please do not hesitate to call or chat with us. We’re here to listen, here to help.

[Guest]

HI!, after looking at all of your posts, some people have been through tough times worse than me, but ever since I was born, I was always told as a pain in the family, and how I shouldn't have been born, I have no support in anything I do, for I'm abused and discriminated for it, while it is common for Asian parents to abuse their children, I feel like my parents are a little extreme, I am an introvert, so I haven't told my friends or anyone, what annoys me the most is when I am absolutely doing nothing wrong, like I'm just reading a book and my mom or dad would come beating me up for not listening to them. I'm sick and tired of it. On the other hand, I feel bad for my parents waisting their time on beating me up and having to use their anger on me, for I understand they have nowhere to show their anger. The main reason I popped up on her was to say that I love school, and am determined to become a doctor. I have no support since I'm apparently useless and lazy. but I still dream of it every day. I want to attend school and become independent, I was wondering if there are any boarding schools I can attend, where I won't be a disturbance to my family.

[ccsmod1]

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We understand it takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and share your story.
It is wonderful to hear you dream of becoming a doctor! You are not a disturbance to your family and you do not deserve to be abused by them. You do not deserve to be someone others take their anger out on. We’re not sure about any boarding schools you could attend as that would probably be something you would need to discuss with your parents, which we understand could be difficult. We also understand that it can be hard to talk to others about your parents, but you took a great first step by opening up here. All this to say, talking to a friend or trusted adult about your parents would be helpful if you feel comfortable doing so. Though we are not legal experts, staying with other friends or family with your parents’ permission is a possible alternative to boarding school. Depending on your age, another possible alternative is emancipation, which could help you become more independent as you could become emancipated from your parents by proving you are mature enough to live on your own and need to do so. The requirements and process differ by state, but it typically can be helpful to have a job, a place to stay lined up, and parental permission or proof of their abuse. The process is also typically longer and more costly, but we could certainly offer you some resources to help you with the process if it is something you are interested in.

Thanks again for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline and sharing your story. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at our website anytime if you have any questions. Best of luck!

-NRS

[Guest]

should I run away i have a good family but I'm always left out and i don't have friends and feel alone I'm also stressed and with bully's

[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 sounds like you're in a really tense situation and it must be really hard to be around. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

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. Living on your own can also bring about many safety risks. You will need to consider ways that you can protect yourself from physical harm as well as the possibility of sexual and labor exploitation. This can all influence your decision to leave.

No one deserves to be bullied. You should be treated with respect everywhere you go and you should feel comfortable at school. If you feel comfortable you can always disclose what’s going on with a trusted teacher, school counselor, or other personnel; they may be able to help. You can also check out https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bullies.html for some “Bullying Survival Tips”.

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]

So my mom just got divorced. She takes all her anger on me. Not physically, but emotionally. I try everyday to please he and make her days less worrisome, but she still always telling me I do EVERYTHING wrong. I am tired of not having a life, she has me homeschooled. I am a 15 year old who goes outside in society once a week to go to my homeschool meeting. I am a 15 year old who has no friends. i am a 15 yr old who wants a life. I wanna go to my friends house, he said yes already, but I want to go to school, but I'm afraid if they see me there they'll take me back, what do I do? But no matter what I am STILL running away

[ccsmod8]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. We are sorry to hear that your mom is treating you that way. It sounds very hurtful and frustrating. We understand it takes great courage to reach out and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what's going on.

While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. It is not illegal to run away, but your mom does have the right to call the police and file a runaway report. This means the police could potentially search for you or come contact you at your friends house or school, if your mom knows where you are, and return you back home.

One option you have, if you think it would help your situation, is our conference call service. NRS can mediate a conference call between you and your mom with the goal of opening up communication, while providing a safe and comfortable space for you to express your feelings. We stay on the line the entire time and keep the conversation calm and productive.

We hope this helps! If you want to discuss your situation further or need additional resources and support, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us online through our website 1800runaway.org
We're here to listen and here to help.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 16. I was living with a friend and her mom in Louisiana for 2 and a half years. They have temp. Gaurdianship , while my real mom is in Arkansas. I just got put out my friends house and Im living with another friend, and I still want to go to school. My friends mom resently took me out of school, if i go back to my real mom, she won't put me back in school.Can I re-enroll myself into to school ? I don't consider myself a runaway, but thats what my school would see it as.

[ccsmod13]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you have gone through a lot and it can be frustrating.
Each school system is different so you may want to call your school and see how you would be able to re-enroll in school. Also the McKinney-Vento act may be able to help you with getting enrolled in school. You can find out more about that by googling the act and you should be able to find some information.
We wish you the best of luck if you have more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support.
NRS

[Guest]

hey I am considering running away and my reasons for it is I just feel so controlled by my family and I just feel so stressed i'm constantly being nagged at fr stuff I did wrong anytime I wear anything sort of revealing they call me a hooker/whore/slut/etc and i just can't take it anymore but I still want to go to school my school can I do that or would it be too risky
(I live in blue springs)

[ccsmod4]

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. People should be more aware of the words they use and the affect they have on others. You don’t deserve to be called such terrible names.
What someone wears is not indicative to who or what they are. It is not your fault that they behave this way. We understand how upsetting you must feel.

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more about your situation. It sounds like you enjoy school and would like to continue there. If you are thinking about running away school may be one of the places most likely to be checked for you. School may also present an opportunity to talk with someone like a counselor or social worker about coping with things at home. Sometimes talking things through might help to come up with some options to bring change. NRS is here to listen and here to help.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and want to run away because I'm treated worse than Cinderella and I'm scared to come out to my dad that I'm gay but school is the only place I get to see my girlfriend so can i get some help.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now.
You do not deserve to be treated poorly and it must be frustrating to have to deal with all of that. Coming out to a parent can be really scary, but you are not alone. At NRS we offer conference calling where if you call us we can call out to your legal guardian. Conference calling allows you to get support and we are there to mediate the conversation.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

um hi.. my mom an dad separated a long time ago because she cheated an he got real abusive .Then they separated an 5 ears later moved back in.I don't feel safe here.It seems like everyone here is against me.They have a horrible relationship an the child my mother had by another man an the rest of my siblings seem so perfect to her. I didn't get a fair child hood but if I run away im worried about me not finishing school an getting a ride to my job tp take care of myself . I live in Pineville,Louisiana.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there, thanks for reaching out to NRS.
It seems like home has been complicated and changing for a while now and it’s understandable to feel confused and isolated like that. Every youth deserves a chance at a happy childhood and support from their parents.
If you were to run away there are things in place to make sure you can still go to school. There is a law called the McKinney-Vento act that guarantees a youth’s right to get an education despite their home circumstances. So even if you were at a shelter somewhere you can get transportation to a school close by. If you have questions about that you could talk to a school counselor about your options, or call us to get a reference for your local homeless outreach officer. However your parents can also choose to file a runaway report if you left. This would mean police would have your information and if they find you would bring you home.
Hopefully this information has helped clear things up a bit. If you have other questions, or just wanted to talk you can reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or use our online chat option.

[Guest]

Hi my name is Josseline and i'm planning to run away with my friend but before we do we are going to save up money for food pads and stuff like that we have a 26 year old friend who could help us the reason we are running away is because are moms don't like us and they abuse us also they have done things you wouldent even imagen i don't live with my dad but i have a step dad the are always fighting and my mom only cares about my siblings shes always treating me wrong she never lets me do nothing she treats me like a slave and i cant handle her doing that any more im so unhappy all i want is to be able to live in peace i wish my mo was nice to me because all she cares about is her self shes physically perfect and it makes me sad because she always brings me down she always hits me and says that im a hoe and stufflike that just because i wanna go out and have fun i understand that im kinda young but i deserve to be happy and she wont let me what can i do ?

[ccsmod3]

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.

You also mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either 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 (the youth stays 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 the youth 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.
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 want to run away from home because I made this really big mistake and i packed for everythigng and wrote them a letter. what should i do, i do not have enough money saved up to run away and I cannot get a job because i am only fifteen.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on.

It sounds like you might some specific questions that you want to ask us or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now. It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on. Now we do offer a service that is basically a Conference Call where the parent/guardian, the youth, and us would be on the phone talking about what has been going on. This way there can be a mediator in between keeping things calm and productive. If you’d feel more comfortable with doing that, just know that it’s always available. It might be a great way to talk about what you are going through and where this feelings might be coming from or to maybe build on your relationship and make it better. So maybe that might be an option for you and your parents. Something constructive so that it certainly opens the lines of communication, but that services is completely up to you.

We hope to hear from you soon!