running away to another state

Hello, I am 17 Years old I will be 18 in october. I currently live in las vegas and want to leave for California. my mother is not the best to me she makes me feel like I'm nothing. she tells me that she will kill me with no remorse, she doesn't care for my feelings, she's the only one that cares for me and that she is my only mother. she says everything I do for attention. she likes to read through me notebooks then gets mad and downgrades me say I'm dumb lazy when I do everything. she never cleans. I told her all she does is make me clean like I'm her maid and she punched me in the mouth. I'm totally done with this kind of treatment. I already have my plan put together. I have a $50 bus ticket I have two family members that live in different cities but we don't talk. I have an aunt who lives out in Cali also but she has a lot going on in her life right now and I don't want to be a bother of anything. I just want to feel free and not feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. If I don't make it to Cali or at least away from her I'm going to kill myself. How should I go about it?

[ccsmod15]

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes a lot of bravery to reach out for help.

We’re sorry to hear that you live in a home you feel the need to run away from. Running away is a big decision as you could be found by police and returned home. So, it can be important to consider if you can make your home feel more safe by talking to those you live with or building a support system in your area. It is also smart of you to try to make a plan. While money and transportation are important considerations to make when thinking about running away, so is what you are going to bring with you and where you are going to go. It can be helpful to bring important documents, and you could reach out to friends and family members about staying with them. These same individuals may be able to help support you financially until you are able to do so yourself and offer you transportation to their homes. One way you could work towards financially supporting yourself would be finding a job if you are old enough. If you would like to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at our website, we could help you find some shelters and transitional living programs, which help you prepare to live on your own, to stay in in your area and talk through more options you may find helpful. Some shelters may offer transportation to them as well.

Thank you again for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Feel free to reach out anytime as we are available 24/7 and are completely confidential. Best of luck!

I want to run away to another state but i have no money or transportation

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. It sounds like it wasn't safe for you at home and that you have run because of that.

No one but police would know that you have run away based on your name, so your ID wouldn't be "flagged" at a bus station. In Michigan, running away is not a crime, it's a status offence: meaning, it's a think you can't do based on your status as a minor.
We hope that you will contact our live services so we can talk about this with you. You can chat us through this website or call our hotline at 1-800786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY)
We hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

Hello I'm **********

I've ran away from home and my parents are looking for me I'm 17 and I turn 28 next year.... My parents aren't exactly abusive but some of the stuff that they have done and things that they have said make me uncomfortable and very sad and they are stressing me out and I'm stressing them out....
I just had to step away and I'm trying to get to a different state...I currently live in Michigan and I wanna get on a bus but I'm afraid my id will be flagged.... How do I get around that....

[ccsmod6]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It definitely seems like you’re having a difficult time in Montana which is really unfortunate! Running away is a huge decision and to run so far, makes things even more scary for anyone.

While you didn’t mention your specific age but indicated that you are underage, the internet reports that the legal age of Adulthood in Montana is 18 years old. That said, it appears it is not against the law to run away, but if you were met by law enforcement, you would likely be returned home. Crossing state lines may also be a problem. Depending upon whom you would be staying with in Oklahoma, that party, if adult age, could be considered ‘harboring a minor’ in both Oklahoma and Montana. Please note that we are not a legal organization—all of this information has been gathered by a simple internet search.

It would really be great if you could reach out to us here at NRS so we could get a bit more information from you so we can be of more assistance. Here at NRS we have a database of resources that could be helpful to you with regards to possible shelters to contact near where you live in Montana as well as perhaps looking into some assistance in better dealing what you may be going through that has made you consider leaving home. . We are available 24/7 at www.1800runaway.org via our chat option or at 1-800-786-2929 if you would like to speak to someone personally.

Again, thank you for reaching out. Hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

National Runaway Safeline

Hi I’m from Montana and I’m trying to runaway to Oklahoma Lawton. But my concern is that my town doesn’t have any busses here, I’m underage so I cannot drive. I also want to keep my phone but I’m scared that the police can track my phone. Do you maybe have any methods on how to get there?

Thank you for your reassurance, it means a lot to me!

[ccsmod15]

Hello, thank you for reaching out to the NRS. It’s so great to hear that you’re willing to open your home to a young person in need. There aren’t many people who would be that generous to someone they don’t know : ) E must be very grateful to have this opportunity. From an outside perspective, it looks like you’re actually more prepared than you might think ! You’ve consulted legal professionals, established a form of counseling for her if she needs it, and you’ve set a timeline to plan around ! It’s probably very nerve racking to be taking in a youth who is dealing with so much in her life, but we assure you that you’re taking all the right steps !



Also, in regards to her concerns about her family searching for her, she can choose to not disclose her location to them and to take whatever steps she needs to in order to ensure they can’t find her. Leaving a note is also a good idea because it will lower the risk of them actively seeking her out. She could also give them a way to contact her so they can reach on her own terms (such as making a specific email for them to reach her through and blocking all other forms of contact). We do offer a Message service so that parents can't track the number used to contact them, or a Conference call if they want to speak face to face but again without risking a phone number being exposed and with a mediator.



Overall, the more control she is able to have in her life, the more she is likely to adjust well. In terms of finding a job, she can ask around and call retail stores near the area, just to introduce herself and see what her options are. She can also look into transitional housing programs and support services offered to LGBTQ+ individuals to see what kind of options there are to help her get her own place. However, you seem to be planning really well on your own and preparing as well as possible ! If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again

Hello, I am a Massachusetts mother to an adult transwoman “A” who lives with me (23 y.o). She has a transwoman friend in Texas, “E” who is 19. They met on-line and have “known” each other for 2 years. E’s family does not accept her gender identity and is abusive (physically and emotionally) and isolates her from others. E is going to an event in another state without her parents in 1 week. A and E have made a plan for A to go meet her and bring her to Mass. We agree to this and have even paid for the airline tickets. We’re willing to have her in our home for a couple of months while she gets on her feet. We consulted a lawyer about this who confirmed that, since E is 19, this is all legal, with her only advice being that E leave behind a note saying that she is going of her own free will (i.e. has not been kidnapped, etc). But we are anxious about how she is going to cope with this transition. She is very anxious that her family will find her. And she will likely feel some regrets. Thankfully, another trans youth friend has a therapist who has already offered to provide E with free phone therapy, so that’s great. I’m also worried that, once here, it will be hard for her to get out on her own - she’s never lived on her own before. Any advice is welcome, thanks!

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

We appreciate you reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We recognize that it takes both courage and strength to seek help, and we are happy to be of support for you. We encourage you to please call 911 if you find yourself at risk or in immediate danger.

With the consideration that you are 15, you are not legally recognized as an adult. Planes typically require a person to have a driver's license, state ID, or passport with them in order to board the plane. You could contact the airline directly and ask them any questions you have, or check their website to see if they have the information listed on there.

We welcome you to reach out to us if you would like further support regarding your situation. We would be happy to offer you further resources, to ensure your well-being and safety. You can do so by contacting us via chat, found on our website at www.1800runaway.org or you may give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Our services operate 24/7, so you may reach out at any time of day.

We wish you health, peace, and safety.

Kindly,
NRS

I'm 15. I've been planning on running away the past minth. My parents don't get me. I live in Alaska and need to get to Washington. I'm planning on flying but I don't know what all I need to get a ticket. What kind of id would I need?

[ccsmod10]

hello im 14 and i'm considering on running away, it's been on my mind for so long now and i don't know what to do.



I live with my mother but she mentally and verbally abuses me, sometimes psychically.

I want to be safe, you know? but im scared i wanna see if i can go stay with a friend but would that persons mother get in trouble?

i just don't know what to do i wanna get away from this toxic household but i don't wanna live with my biological father and i still wann head to the same school. would that be possible? is foster possible? i'm just so confused i'm just upset stress and done with everything and want to get away.

We're really thankful you reached out to us. It sounds like you've had a lot on your plate, and it's much easier to process things like this with someone than to do so alone. (Still challenging... but easier).

It sounds like living with your mother has progressively felt more unsafe-- emotionally and possible physically. It sounds like you have things going on in life that you like, but your home environment has been more draining than supportive. It's not fun to feel confused/upset/stressed, but it absolutely makes sense you feel that way.

You always have options and we're here to talk them through with you. If you go to stay with a friend without your parent/guardian's permission, your parent could report that you were missing. If they did so, police would try to investigate where you were and likely try to return you home. If the person you were staying with did not notify police you were there, they could possibly get charged with a crime.

Entering the foster care system would most likely only happen if the abuse at home worsened (which we hope doesn't happen). That would involve reporting what's been happening to Child Protective Services (which we can do with you over the phone or live chat if you feel you want to).

It could be worth discussing this with people that you trust-- friends, family members, teachers/counselor at school that you like.

If you'd like you can always call us or live chat us (1800runaway.org) and we can talk through more specific possible solutions based on your situation. You do not have to handle this alone.

hello im 14 and i'm considering on running away, it's been on my mind for so long now and i don't know what to do.



I live with my mother but she mentally and verbally abuses me, sometimes psychically.

I want to be safe, you know? but im scared i wanna see if i can go stay with a friend but would that persons mother get in trouble?

i just don't know what to do i wanna get away from this toxic household but i don't wanna live with my biological father and i still wann head to the same school. would that be possible? is foster possible? i'm just so confused i'm just upset stress and done with everything and want to get away.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for your message. You did the right thing reaching out. It sounds like you are having a difficult time at home that makes you want to leave. Know that you deserve to feel safe and happy where you live.

You mentioned concern about being a minor and running away to another state. At the NRS, we are not legal experts and the rules do vary state to state and even by situation. In general, if a minor runs away, their guardians can file a runaway report which will have the police looking for them. The police might then try to send the minor back home. Additionally, we do not know if the place where you would work would have contact with the police or if they would be able to find out about the runaway report.

One option that you have is to reach out to your local and non-emergency police with hypothetical and anonymous questions. The police can then help you gauge your rights. In addition, if you reach out to us through our hotline (1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)) or our chat service on our website (www.1800runaway.org) and we can help you try to locate legal resources and aid in your area. We can also help you discuss other options such as emancipation, staying with a family member or friend, or talking to a counselor. We can also discuss healthy coping mechanisms if you decide to stay in the living arrangement. Also if you ever find yourself in danger, know that you can call 911 for immediate help.

Your safety is our priority.

Stay strong,
NRS