14 in pennsylvania and i need to get out but i dont want to run i want a place to go

[Guest]

i live in pa and im 14 i live with my verbally abusive father, my mother is not an option. i was in an impatient facility for 2 weeks and now i am at a youth shelter. my father is sending my step mom to come get me soon but i feel as if i might harm myself if i go back to that enviroment. is there anything i can do other than running away?

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us at NRS! It sounds like you are in a very frustrating situation and we appreciate your bravery for confronting it. Legally, because you are 14 and still a minor, your parent/guardian has the right to determine where you stay. However, it sounds like staying with your father and step mother is not the best place for you right now, but to stay elsewhere you would need permission from your parent/guardian. If you don’t think it is possible to get permission from them, you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) any time and we can put you in touch with some legal resources that would have more information pertaining to the laws in Pennsylvania. You can also call your local police station, or even before that, you can ask a staff member at your current shelter how they are able to help you. Because you mentioned that your step mother is coming to get you from your current shelter, if once back at home you feel unsafe and want to leave again, you can give us a call and we can put you in touch with some other shelter resources as well. We are always here to offer you support and guidance, and are looking forward to hearing from you whenever you are ready.
Best of luck to you, and don’t hesitate to reach out again if you have any other questions, whether that be by email or by phone!

Sincerely,
NRS