running away to another state

Hey I’m 17 years old and I want to run away by taking a flight to another state and start a new life but what I am concerned about is that could my parents find out that I flew away to another state. And if I started working at the new place would they find out if the reported me as a missing child?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there, thanks for contacting NRS! I am so sorry to hear you are having such a tough time at home. Nobody deserves to be made to feel that they cannot express themselves or be themselves. In regards to your question, it depends on your age. In South Carolina, the age of majority (age where you are no longer a minor) is 18 years old. If you were to leave home without your parents’ permission, they could file a runaway report with the police to help locate you and bring you home. Additionally, the friend/person housing you could also get in trouble for housing someone who has run away.



You do still have some options (potentially even local ones in South Carolina) and here at NRS, we are happy to discuss them with you. We have a hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) to talk through options or you can chat us on our website (https://www.1800runaway.org/). Both are available 24/7. In the meantime, I do want to offer up some other resources. In addition to our own line, some other organizations like crisistextline.org have a chatline as well and are used to talking with people going through very similar situations to your own. Also, if you are ever feeling unsafe at home, another organization (https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/) is available to potentially assist with that as well. Lastly, sometimes it can be helpful to discuss what you are going through with a friend or teacher. I hope everything works out for you, and do not hesitate to reach out!



Best of luck,

NRS

Hi, and I hate my home. My parents are oppressively religious and hate everything I do. I live in south Carolina and I’m either going to Dover, Delaware or somewhere in Maryland where a friend of mine moved last year. Would it be illegal? I’m scared to death but also can’t take my life anymore

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,



Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It takes a lot of courage to reach out, and we are glad that you did reach out to us. It sounds like you are having a difficult time right now at home with your mother, and that you have a plan to move out on your own. We are sorry that you are going through a tough time right now. It is understandable to be scared and worried about missing your family. In regard to not wanting to switch doctors, you could always move out on your own and stay in the area. Because you are a legal adult, your mother will not be able to legally force you to come home even if you stay in the area. This would also allow you to stay more in touch with your family and be able to see them more often while still getting the space you need from your mother.



If you would like to talk more in detail and/or if you would like us to help you locate shelters or other resources in your area, feel free to chat us through our website www.1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are confidential, and you can reach out to us anytime. We are 24/7.



We wish you the best of luck with your situation.



Be safe,

NRS

I’m 24 and contemplating running away from Indiana to Missouri. Somewhere far away enough for me to live my own life and get the proper care and treatment I need. I have hyper-mobility syndrome and something known as Plantar Fasciitis which has made it difficult to walk or work. I am fed up and feel like I don’t belong here anymore and like I’m not being heard. I’m scared mostly because I’ll miss my family but, not sleeping on my mother’s mother in-laws couch with my little brother or having to take care of her mother in-law who does have dementia and she’s has this weird obsession with me and we don’t get along. I am tired of living my mothers life and have her tell what I can and can’t do like when I hide the fact I applied for social security and she lectured me and said some really hurtful things. I’m not faking the fact that my condition is chronic and very disabling. I can’t walk up and down stairs or for long periods of time without issues and that’s a short list of my problems. I need to be free! I have a plan devised and soon as the other half of my student loan hits my account I’m hopping on that bus to the cheapest and safest looking hotel I can find. I will text my cousin once I’m halfway out the state so, she can notify my mom, stepdad, and little brother that I am ok. My 20 year old brother moved out and he is doing awesome and he did something similar. We don’t talk but, I check on him secretly on his Facebook since his page ain’t private. Emotionally he’s not ok but, neither am I if I stay here. I’m on meds to help sleep and for my anxiety, which also helps my chronic pain, something for my chronic headaches, something for my feet, and a muscle relaxer (the one one that is prescribed by my geneticist. ) I’m sad I have to fine a new geneticist and doctor because, it took years to find a doctor who listens to me and takes me seriously, but I’m tired of living my mom’s life and im tired of suffering. I’ve research and I have a fool proof plan to leave on a day I have class so it looks like im there which, is the only day I really leave the house and have really been out on my own. I went from having to sleep on my aunts couch to know sharing the sectional at her now mother in-laws place all because, my mother couldn’t wait to be with and marry the guy she’s with. We all had to be homeless and my brother had to give up his dog. We are all suffering emotionally so, it’s time to go. This has been going on for a year and my mom calls me a burden and says I’m living off of her when she knows whose fault this is and what’s really going on. I have developed a severe case of depression and my anxiety has gotten worse since being here. I’m tired of waiting for things to change and having to keep an eye on her mother in-law while I’m in class and when I should be out living my life. She’s rapidly declining and my mom knows it but, the still want to keep her home because that’s what she wants. I can’t deal with it anymore or every time I mess or do something wrong or when her mother in law complains about me I have to get out. I’m just going to leave. None of this was my idea. I’m 24 and I had to take care of my mother’s mother in-law just like how I had to raise my 12 year old brother because she was grieving when my grandmother died and she meant everything to me and I didn’t get to grieve properly. Sorry for the long reply but, there’s so much going on and I’m angry! I’m tired of my putting all her responsibilities off on me and getting mad for not wanting to do them.

[ccsmod15]

Hello, thank you for reaching out to us. Sorry to hear that your aunt is abusive, and it’s understandable that you feel liking running away given your family issues at home. Just be aware that if you are under 18 and leave home without permission your aunt could file a runaway report on you and anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway. Also, if you'd like to file an abuse report you can do that through us or through www.childhelp.org.

If you feel like you would benefit from talking to someone about your specific situation, we encourage you to call (1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)) or chat us through this website (www.1800runaway.org) so that we can better listen and help. We work best when we can have a conversation with you. We truly hope to hear from you soon.

hi... i want to leave home to be with my partner so we both dont have to deal with our family issues anymore but i dont know how to do this and i just want to leave from my abusive aunt to be with him and keep each other safe

[ccsmod15]

We’re glad you reached out. That does sound like a tough spot. You seem to be going through a lot for a long time. It looks like you've given some thought into your plan and have a place in mind, its important that you do bring along your ID otherwise it will be hard to get a job even after you turn 18 or to do other normal things an adult would want to do.
Another option you could try is reaching out to your local police department on their non-emergency line and ask what the age of majority is in your state. That’s the legal age that you are considered an adult. You could also ask if it’s legal for a youth who is 17 to leave the state without parental or guardian consent.
We are here at 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1800runaway.org 24/7 if you need to get any resources. We can help find you shelters, counseling services, legal aid or other resources.

hi im in a really tough spot atm im 17 and i don’t have a home im trying to go out of state as a runaway until im 18 which is several months so i can get myself situated i have no one here or anywhere that can help me and i just need to know being im 17 cops will be called but i will be at my destination in 24 hours im trying to stay away from cops ive been going through this for 4 years and its destroying me mentally and physically please if you have any advice ill take it… im catching a bus i do have an ID i just need to stay gone until im 18.

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

So hi I’m Sally (Fake name) I’m 14 and I live in Saudi Arabia and I’ve been thinking about running away for a really long while so I think I’m finally about to do it- It’s not that I have audible parents and everything I mean it’s just that my parents keep constantly making me feel like everything I do is wrong and keep making me feel like I’m a disappointment..often comparing me to my sisters anencephaly constantly threatening me all the time. Anyway, before I do runaway I had a few questions and concerns;

I’ll honestly have to sadly admit that I’m usually dependent and now that I’m going alone therefor meaning I’m going have to be independent, I’m not quite sure where to start?

I’d just like to point out my dream- I really want to be able to go to Florida and somehow get adopted into a new and loving family (I know there is little to 0 chances of this being possible but yeah I’d like to get as close as I can to this goal)


Any tips or/and advice would be appreciated answers helpful!!

[ccsmod15]

So sorry this burden has been placed on you, as it does sound overwhelming.

Here are some suggestions for what you face. First, it may make the most sense to talk to your school counselor to see how they could help you, specifically, helping you talk to other family members to help with your grandma or help you find services to come to your house and help take care of her. It seems she may need more than you can give her. Secondly, they may be able to help you fine some counseling or emotional support for all you are going through.

If that is not an option, maybe you can reach out to nami.org at 1-800-950-6264 for help with finding someone to talk to about your situation and get some mental health/emotional support. You can also contact www.211.org or call 211 to ask for help, as United Way is an organization that helps with all kinds of challenges.
If you think running away is the only option at this point, it’s important to have a specific plan in place. You can prepare by having money you’ll need to use for travel, bringing all your identification, packing up your clothes, phone, computer, whatever you need.

Again, it sounds so tough, what you’re handling. We are here 24/7 and can talk further about your situation and what you’re face with. We’re at 1-800-786-2929. Please reach out at anytime. Good luck.

Hi
im 16 and im planning on running away. I live in California and my Nana (legal guardian) is putting a lot on me. She's recently been sick with cirrhosis and epilepsy and im the only family member who isn't busy so I can take care of her. Its extremely overwhelming and I have nothing here where I live anymore. I've been constantly having breakdowns and i can't think to myself. Im failing school too because I always have to watch her and take care of her and she's also starting to get memory loss and I just can't see her like that. I really want to run away and just be free without stress and mental pain. My 17yo bf recently moved a few states away and I he has his own place, a job and I have a way to get there. If that plan falls through I have a second plan that involves my 17yo best friend who's only a state away from my bf. Idk. Is there any advice you could give me? Im so lost here and im even right now trying not to have another breakdown. Just.. Can you help?

[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 difficult time right now and we want you to know that you are not alone.

We understand that you are going through mental abuse, you do not deserve that and you do have a right to make a report. One option you could consider would be to contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453, and they would be able to help with making a report. You can also reach out to a school counselor or teacher and because they are mandated reporters they can make a report. Lastly, you can always call or chat with us and we can help with making a report. We just wanted to let you know making a report is an option, not all child protective organizations are useless, and we are sorry you had that experience.

We are not legal experts but we do have some information, if you are a minor and leave home without permission your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police were to find you, they most likely would bring you home.

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 available 24/7 to listen and to provide support

NRS

16, looking to run away from indiana to escape mental abuse and useless child services organizations. Any states closeby that would offer refuge in my situation?