My Runaway Rights in North Carolina

[Guest]

I hate my parents.

Hi, I’m 11, from North Carolina, and my parents are disgusting, absolutely DISGUSTING.
They once told me not to get married to me and my younger brother. They also invade all of my privacy and look through everything I do.
Not only that, they always argue. And we have an ant problem, so?
my mom also doesnt want me to go to my aunts. Even though my aunt actually cares about me, my mom doesn’t.
My dad is okay, my brother cares, but my mom? I wish she was dead, for gods sake.
I wish to run away to the Florida keys to live with an internet friend. Even though I’m young, I dont care about staying in this household anymore.
Just keeping this simple..and if she sees this, wish me luck.

[ccsmod7]

Hello, Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re having a hard time at home. Here at NRS, we truly want to inform you and support you as best we can.

We are not legal experts however, at age 11 you are still considered a minor and would need parental consent if you decided to leave home. If you do runaway, your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. It might be helpful to note that if you are found that the police will return you back to your parents. Also, some other things to consider if you do decide to go live with an internet friend is that your friend could be charged with something called harboring a runaway. In addition, it might also be helpful to think about how well you know this person and what would happen if this friend isn’t who you think they are. You may also consider how you’ll keep yourself safe and what will be the plan B if you are no longer able to stay with this person.

We hope this was helpful. Please feel free to reach back out to us if you need any additional assistance. We are here 24-7.

Thank you again,

NRS

[Guest]

I have a 16 yr old daughter and I can't make her stay home and she doesn't tell me where she is at. I just concerned that she is not making the best of decisions she is supposed to be with her best friend which is a almost 21 yr old male and his mom is thinking of having him put in a place because of his decisions he has Asperger's

[ccsmod11]

Hi, and 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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things with your daughter. You mentioned not being able to make your daughter stay home. One thing you can do if your daughter leaves is to file a runaway report with the police. A runaway report is considered a status offense (and so not a misdemeanor or felony or anything that would go on her record). Filing a runaway report can help protect you as a parent in case anything were to happen to your daughter while she is on the run.

We understand this can be a very difficult time for you. Please know that you are not alone. We are here to listen and here to help in any way we can. Another resource for support is called Team H.O.P.E., which stands for Help Offering Parents Empowerment. It is a support group (via phone, no need to go anywhere for meetings or in person) of people who may be in similar situations with their children - although obviously no two situations are exactly the same. The telephone number for Team HOPE is 1-866-305-4673.

This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. 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). Best, NRS

[Guest]

Okay i am 17 and will turn 18 in 4 months. I am currently in DSS custody of NC. i have somewhere to go but DSS will not approve of it. I need to know how much trouble i could get into from running from my shelter

[ccsmod6]

Hey there,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We are here to help in any way we can.
By using this website: https://sexetc.org/action-center/sex-in-the-states/ I looked up the different laws about age of majority in North Carolina. It does look like at 17 you are still considered a minor, so leaving your shelter without DSS permission would be considered a status offense, which means it is something that you cannot do simply because of your age. We are not legal experts, but our understanding is that when minors run away, your case worker would file a runaway report with your local police department. Every police department has a unique way of handling runaways, but our general understanding is that the number one priority would be to return you safely back to your shelter. If you have run away more than once, or are considered “chronic”, this of course may be handled differently.
One of the services we offer here at NRS is to call out to local police stations to see how they handle runaway youth anonymously. If you would like to do this, want to talk through your plan, or have any other questions, feel free to call us here at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are a 24/7, toll-free, completely confidential safeline. Here to listen, here to help.
Best of luck

[Guest]

.Can I walk out of the house without my parents consent without getting into trouble?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. If you’re a minor and you leave your home your parent/guardians can file a “runaway report” which is essentially just a missing persons report. Generally, there’s no penalty for running away, it’s just something you can’t do as a minor. That being said, if you go to someone’s house it can be considered that the person who is housing you is “harboring a runaway”, which is normally a misdemeanor. Penalties for harboring a runaway vary from state to state, police officer to officer and how your parents react.

If you’d like to talk more about options you may have available to you or if you want to go further in depth about some of the things we’re touched upon, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button at the top of our homepage.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

My daughter is 17 and she has a daughter I have asked the police on several occasions to bring her home and they have literally put this case on the back burner for years at this point I really am at a lost of words on what to do it appears that they meaning the police department, social service and depart of juvenile justice has no intention to help me. I spoke with an officer tonight that read me the law that if she is underage under 18 that she can be made to come home and he basically said that he couldn’t do anything because she could sue them so he read me the law that said for him to do something and he wouldn’t I have been having a problem with this child for years I am at wits end I do not know what else to do please help.

[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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by your daughter causing issues. From what we can gather it seems like you might need to hire a lawyer. If the Police have told you all these things it is your right to enforce them to do so. However perhaps by hiring a lawyer they can on your behalf help you to do what it is that they should be doing under the law. Again we are sorry to hear about what is going on but suggest your best course of action is hiring a lawyer so that he can mitigate on your behalf. If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

Im getting sick of this

So I’m under the age of 12 and me and my mom are starting to have arguments with me for every single day and I’m sick of it..my “stepdad” influenced her into drinking..(she only does it sometimes) but she would never drink or have arguments with me in the olden days...I just wish it would come back to then, but because randomly in 2017 we just moved out of nowhere with a random family I didn’t know..I never moved EVER and my mom fell in love with another person..(at the time before that she was a single mother) my “stepdad” had 3 daughters and no son’s and I stayed with them for 3 years (including 2017) and those were the worst years of my LIFE. Those years brought my self esteem to lower a MASSIVE amount cause I used to be all cheerful and happy and humble, but I am inside now are empty and gloomy, I feel like I want to die but inside me I know I can’t do that, so I feel like just running away. I’ve moved back to my old house and my sister (age 25) and brother (age 2 live there too but I also wanna find a way to run away without anyone noticing in the morning cause my mom comes back from work at 8:00PM and goes to work at 10:00AM I come back from school at 2:45PM and my sister goes to work at anytime or can go hangout with her friends and my big bro stays at the house most of the times but also hangout with his friends. And when I run away I want to bring my dog to (Name: Lucky, Age:1, Breed: Terrier) so I hope you know my story now and know away to know how to help me. Also I live in NC so I hope that helps. and again I hope you know how to help me. -S

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for telling us your story and reaching out. It can be difficult telling others what has happened to you. It sounds like you have had a lot of big changes recently and it’s been hard trying to adjust. Although things may not be able to go back to how they were with your mom, talking to her about how you feel might help.

One service we can offer is to conference call with your parents. This way you could have a conversation with your parents but you would not be alone. For example, it may be hard for you to explain to your mom how you feel about her drinking. Sometimes those conversations go better in a conference call because we can advocate for you.

Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 44357 the word “safe,” and your location to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member. Not sure if you would be able to bring Lucky, but you can always ask.

We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. You could consider calling your local non-emergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

You mentioned having low self-esteem, feeling gloomy and empty. Stress and anxiety can appear in many different ways especially if we are feeling overwhelmed. If you’re not currently getting mental health resources, it can be really helpful to talk to someone. You can contact NAMI to connect you to mental health resources at 1-800-950-6264 or NAMI.org. You may also want to talk to your school because they should have a counselor for you.

It can be difficult to manage situations like this but you don’t have to do it alone. Hopefully these resources have been helpful. If you would like to talk more about your situation we are here 24/7 via chat at 1800Runaway.or or directly by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Wish you the best
-NRS

[Guest]

hey, im 17 and i live in north carolina i’ll be 18 in 2 weeks recently i’ve had trouble with my parents because i’m gay. i want to leave and i don’t know if i’m allowed to legally. they’ve forbidden me be with the perosn ive been with for months and they aren’t taking this situation good at all. I need to know if i’m allowed to leave?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been going through such a tough time, but we are here to support you and help you in any way we can. That sounds so stressful and hurtful to have your parents not be taking this situation well.

We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. The people you’re staying with could potentially get in trouble for having you stay there. Some police departments don’t accept runaway reports for 17 year olds, but the policies may vary by each department. You could consider calling your local nonemergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

There are also various LGBTQ hotlines that you could consider reaching out to for support: LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564; glbthotline.org; LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743; The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386; thetrevorproject.org; Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860; translifeline.org.

If you haven’t already, you could consider reaching out to a trusted adult, relative, worker/teacher/counselor at your school for help and support. You could also consider talking to your parents about how you’ve been feeling or having another trusted adult help you talk with them. Just so you’re aware, we have a conference calling service here where we could help mediate a conversation between you and your parents.

It sounds like all of your struggles are making you consider leaving home. If you do decide to leave home, you could consider thinking about ways to make sure you stay safe. You could explore ways you would pay for food, shelter, clothing and other necessary things. You could think about how long you would stay away, where you would stay, and what things would be like when you return. You could consider what you would do if you felt that you were in danger or had an emergency. And just a reminder that if you ever feel that you are in danger, you could call 911 for immediate help.

There are also many resources that could help you find a safe place or help you with anything else you may need. If you want to talk more about what’s been going on, or if you would like more information about resources, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online.

Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

[Guest]

I am 17 years old (I turn 18 near the end of November) and I want to move out without my legal guardians approval. My mother passed away over two years ago and I have lived with my grandmother since. She is continuously making comments about weight, clothes, and lifestyle and these comments are boarding on mental and emotional abuse.I also have to beg to go out with friends once in a while or just to go out for a bit to clear my head, I even have to plead to go to school functions that would heavily benefit me and 99% of the time Im not allowed to go. I have also brought up moving out to my legal guardian and my grandmother but when I did they laughed in my face and wouldn’t have a real conversation with me treating me like a child for saying something like that to their face. When I tried to bring up my grandmother comments to my guardian, which is my uncle, he said to me “You just can’t handle the truth”. It broke me when he said such a thing after living with my grandmother. I’m always super stressed out because of these factors and I can not live in these circumstances any longer. I plan to move in a few months with a family that have been good friends to me and my mother before she pasted. They continued to support and be there for me when and where my grandmother wouldn’t. Anytime I have sought emotional support from my grandmother or she caught me crying about my mother my grandmother had told me to “Suck it up”, I was raised with affection and support my whole life and for her to say something like that to me while grieving is very hurtful and rude. I know i could try for emancipation but that might take too long legally and would be a large waste of time and money. I really need to know if there is anything I could do to move out and get out of this situation. Thank you.

[ccsmod4]

Reply:I am 17 years old

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

We understand it takes a lot courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing what’s been going on. We are sorry for you loss. Losing a loved one can be something most difficult to navigate through. After losing your mom it sounds like you have experienced abusive behavior from your uncle and grandmother. It is unfortunate that they are behaving in such an insensitive way. You do not deserve to be mistreated. It’s not your fault that this is happening. However we do want you to know that we understand the situation has taken a lot out of you emotionally. Something to consider in an effort to cope might be to seek counseling. In regards to you leaving home before your 18^th birthday;
You might consider investigating the laws in your state concerning a minor becoming independent or contacting the non-emergency number to the local police department to see if at 17 you might be considered a runaway.
During this time of struggle NRS wants you to know that we are here to listen and here to help.
You are free to talk about your situation and explore some options.
Reaching out today was a big step. Good for you.
You are your best advocate for help.

Stay strong,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

i'm 16 and i live with my mom and my dad. my dad is mentally and physically abusive, and i plan on leaving and go to my friends house during spring break which is in two days. this morning i was later for my bus and my dad yelled and me and threatened to "slap the f**k out of me" , he always threatens me like this and about a year or two ago is when he was really abusive to me. there was once where he threw me across my room and i almost broke something, i left my house for a couple of min to get my thoughts together and my mom and dad hunt me down and forced me to get into their car and go home. i am done living in this house, i can't do it anymore. i'm turning 17 in december. what can i do? is it running away if i go somewhere safe (my friends house) without their permission? can they drag me back home? will i get into trouble? i'm low key scared to leave because i'm afraid i'll be dragged back into my house and my dad will beat me. i already have a lot on my plate regarding school and my personal life and even finding out who i am. my parents always drag me down and make me feel terrible about myself. my father doesn't care and doesn't believe in me. he always plays the victim when he's really not. like back to the thing from this morning, when he was threatening me, he kept saying it my my fault and making me feel bad about myself when i know i shouldn't. i would also like to say when (if) i runaway to my friends house during spring break, i am coming back to my house when it is over. so is that technically running away if i'm coming back? can someone help me out please?

[ccsmod2]

Hello! Thank you for reaching out to NRS! You most certainly do not deserve to be treated the way they are treating you. No one should be hurting you or threatening you. Home should be a place where you feel safe and supported. First and foremost you can always reach out to Child Help. They are the national child abuse hotline. You can reach them at 1800-422-4453. They will be able to answer questions regarding abuse and also provide support. Another good resource is NAMI. They are the National alliance on Mental Health. The situations you have been through can take a toll on a person. Their number is 1800-950-NAMI or you can text NAMI to 741741. They can help talk you through
Now, to answer your questions about running away. You are still a minor so you would need your parent’s permission to leave. They are still legally responsible for you. We are not legal experts, but it is not illegal to run away. If you did and the police found you, they would most likely just bring you back home. If they contacted the police and reported you as a runaway the person you are staying with could potentially be charged with harboring a minor. If you have any more questions please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support.
NRS

[Guest]

Ok this is extremely hard to talk about. But I need to know. My children were adopted out about 10 years ago. My 18 year old is here with me. My 16 year old is wanting to come home. She is in a group home. She is also run away with a 15 year old. Can she be charged as an adult for leaving with this 15 year old? In North Carolina.

[ccsmod6]

We're glad you reached out to us. We'll try to help. It's understandable that the situation might be hard to talk about. We're not legal experts but we know that running away is not a crime; it's a status offense. If the home where she ran away from files a runaway report, the police may look for her and return her to the home. Also, if she comes to your home, you may be charged for harboring a runaway which is typically considered a misdemeanor offense. If you would like to talk about these issues you can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY and discuss the situation and options. We can also give you referrals to legal aid agencies in your area. We are here 24/7 and are confidential. Good luck.

[Guest]

i’m not really sure how this works..
im 14 years old and i live in north carolina. i live with my dad and he is basically a psychopath. he mentally and verbally abuses me. he doesn’t allow me to do anything. even if i walk into his room and look at him the wrong way he will scream at me and take all of the things i value. i just want to leave i truly can’t take it anymore it’s been going on for years. my friend and her family said they would be glad to let me stay with them but if my dad filed me as a runaway then the people i’m with can be charged for harboring and i wouldn’t want that to happen, so what should i do?

[ccsmod6]

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS and for sharing your story with us. We are sorry to hear about your situation and what you’ve been dealing with. Ideally, home would be a place where people feel safe, loved, and valued, and you do not deserve to be treated that way. You’ve been very courageous to reach out for help and try your best despite the circumstances.

Although NRS is not a legal agency, we can try to give a general idea of possible outcomes if you were to run away. As you are considered a minor in your state, you are still under your parents’ guardianship, therefore at any point when you are gone, your dad would be legally within his rights to file a runaway report. Being a runaway is a status offense, and while you would not be charged with a crime, if police came across you, they would probably return you home. Guardians could also potentially press charges against people who took you into their care for “harboring a runaway;” these charges would be misdemeanors, but still criminal offenses.

In regards to your plan of living with your friend’s family, we would encourage you to speak with your father if you haven’t already about this. Some things to consider would be guardianship, school enrollment, how you would take care of your needs (eating, sleeping, healthcare), and how you would care for your safety if something were to happen. If you were interested, we also offer conference-calling as an option, where we would mediate a constructive conversation between your parents and yourself in order to reach an understanding.

If you would like to share more, please feel free to call our 24 hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or use our Live Chat.


We hope this information was helpful and take care,
National Runaway Safeline
[email protected] (Crisis Email)
1-800-RUNAWAY (24 Hour Hotline)

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 but I turn 17 in less than a month. My parents have recently found out I was questioning my sexuality and they didnt take it well. They took me out of the last month of school before it ended and they took everything away from me. When I say everything I dont just mean electronics they took my bed away and the door off my hinges. They have even went as far to take away my clothes until I even have 3 outfits. Since all of this I have tried to talk with my parents but I have been meet with beatings and more punishments so I try not to talk much now from fear. I'm scared of them and currently just want to leave I have a safe place to go but I'm unsure if legally I can go. I have read about certain cases where a 17 year old has been able to leave. I just dont think I'll be able to do another year with this treatment and sleeping on a floor with a sheet.

[ccsmod1]

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 in a home with so much tension. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, 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 a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents.

You parents should be taking away basic necessities like your clothing and bedding and denying you an education. 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 or if you feel like there is neglect of your general needs, 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.

It is perfectly okay to deviate from what your parents or others believe to be “normal”. It is completely natural to explore and discover your sexuality. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. The LGBT Youth National Talkline could be a resource that can be a source of great support. The hotline is run by those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can reach them by calling 1-800-246-7743 or you can check out their website at gltbhotline.org. You can also check out the Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to helping LGBT teens by calling 866-488-7386 or by going to thetrevorproject.org.

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]

Neglect, Emotional Health deteriorating, mental health messed up

Hi I’m 15 years old, I’ll be 16 in a couple months. I have a boyfriend who is 19. My parents were okay with it at first but the other day, things went downhill fast. The other night I got caught doing something I wasn’t supposed to with my boyfriend (he was spending the night that night). I live with my parents and my grandma and my little sister. My grandma caught me and I thought she wouldn’t do what she did. She went straight into my parents room and told my parents . Then she grabbed my boyfriend by the throat and pushed him out of my house. Then she hit me across the face multiple times. Take into consideration that she just had severe neck surgery. But anyways she hurt me and my boyfriend. When my mom came out of the room she pushed my grandma (my grandmas my dads mom). My mom has always stuck up for me. Then I was screamed at by my dad saying I’m such a whore I should die he’ll bear my ass. Then he told me to get out. He kicked me out. My boyfriend was gonna press charges for assault and neglect for me my mom and him. But my dad threatened to Jill him. The next morning after things calmed down and we were told to come back in. We were told to get out again. This time all 3 of us us left. But for hours my dad called my mom me and my boyfriend and threatened all of us to call the cops. He threatened to put me in for runaway, when he told me to get out. He threatened to put my mom in, for neglect when she was told to get out. He threatened to put my boyfriend in for kid napping, when he didn’t kidnap me at all. Then my dad calls my grandfather and tells him everything. Finally my dad comes to get us 3 and to take my boyfriend home because he didn’t have a ride until the next morning. My dad promised for everything to be ok in a week. I didn’t get my phone taken, I just wasn’t able to see my boyfriend for a week or two. Then my little sister tells on me and almost gets me put away in jail. Then last night my cousin calls me and says I can talk to her if I need to rant but then I rant to her and she calls my grandma and gets me into more trouble. It’s a lot of betrayal. I wanna runaway and live with my boyfriend. But I’m concerned about the laws.

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you feel betrayed by your family and are experiencing some stress caused by this. We are here for you and we can provide support for you.

We are not legal experts here at NRS, but we can provide you with some general legal information. As a minor, your parents may be entitled to file a runaway report if you do choose to runaway. Running away is a status offense. Which means that you could be picked up by the police and taken back to your legal guardians. Additionally, while we are not legal experts, if you would be staying with an adult that is not your legal guardian, they could be at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway, which is usually considered a misdemeanor.

If you feel like your home is not in a safe place, you can reach out to Child Help, which is a National Child Abuse Hotline, and can be reached at 1-800-422-4453, or childhelp.org. If you ever feel like you are in immediate danger, call emergency services at 911.

Thank you again for reaching out to 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 (1-800-786-2929).

[Guest]

I am 24 years old but my mom has guardianship over me when I was 20 and she still has guardianship over me. I have a job and I know how budget and I know how dress myself. Yes I little bit learning difficulties, but I know how life works around me. I want to be free and tired of living under my moms roof. Can I run away without the police doing anything about it ?

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,
Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes great courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out.

It sounds like you are having a hard time with your mom and want to be independent. It also seems like you realize you do have some challenges but you would like to make decisions on your own. This can be certainly challenging. Talking to your mom about how you feel and coming up with a plan with your therapist, doctor or social worker about how you can be a little more independent without putting your safety at risk can be helpful. Your safety is of utmost importance and it can be be helpful to talk discuss this with appropriate people before taking any steps. We are not legal experts however if your mom is to file a police report and she is your guardian the police can bring you back home.

Living by yourself can be challenging. It can be helpful to think about how you might pay for rent, food, and other living expenses. It can be helpful to calculate how much you make right now and subtract taxes, and the average rent in your area and living expenses before taking any steps to make sure you could afford living by yourself. Also it may be possible that since your mom is your guardian many places may need your mom's permission to let you stay by yourself.

We are here to support you through this hard. If you chose you can call us at our confidential hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) and we can listen to you, explore your options and provide you resources. You can also contact NAMI at 1-800-950-NAMI and they can help support you through your challenges.

You are acting strong by reaching out for help. We wish you the best.

Best,
NRS