17 Y/O run away rights in Arizona

I am 16 years old and want to run away from home. My mom is very abusive verbally and emotionally sometimes physically but my dad lives in California and I have can’t see him that often. I might be able to run away and live with a friend in there house with there parents but I don’t want to get them in legal trouble by living with them and escaping. I know there is no penalty for me legally running away but I don’t want to get other people in trouble that help me get away from my mom. My mom really tries to keep me in the house and would probably call the police as I can’t leave the house for more then about 5 hours I don’t know how she would react with running away. I also don’t want to tell the police or CPS about the abuse because then I would get into foster care or be forced to go back home with therapy and I just want to be away from my mom and live at my friends house. If there parents take me in consensually and keep me in school, and take care of me in every way a parent is supposed to can they take me out of that home and send me home and can they get in trouble for harboring me and taking care of me if I am fully taken care of?

[ccsmod15]

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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We really unfortunately cannot answer your question as there is no way for us to know. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance.
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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

Hi. I'm 17 with 3 weeks until 18. I was supposedly reported as a runaway but I went to the emergency room a bit ago and Child protective services talked to me. I was illegally living with my dad but it's been a month since dcs found out that I was living with him and the police has contacted him to tell him that when I am ready to press charges to call the police department. I was hired at subway and am wondering if their I9 check will pop up that I'm a runaway but I can't find my name in any databases

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at 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 at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way and you have a right to be safe.

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation and what your options might be to live with your mom.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. 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 chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. 1-800-RUNAWAY

Be safe,
NRS

I am 15 years old and I want to go live with my mom. My dad and step mom are violently, mentally and emotionally abusive. My dad has full custody of me because my mom defaulted custody when she got arrested for a failure to appear warrant. I cant take living there and I keep running away but the police keep bringing me back even though I tell them I dont feel safe there. My dad is a convicted felon and he has multiple guns in the house so I have a hard time sleeping because I'm afraid hes going to kill me or attack me again if I do. I just want to go live with my mom but no one will listen to me and she doesnt have the money to be able to take my dad to court. Is there any real help out there because I also dont want to become ward of state or placed in foster care. I just want to live with my mom.

[ccsmod15]

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.



We're sorry you're going through this. You mentioned experiencing emotional and verbal abuse which may be reportable against your parents. Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise.  Unfortunately, emotional and verbal abuse are often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation. That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share. Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead.  The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Another resource that may be helpful is Child Help. You can reach Child Help by calling 1-800-422-4453 or by visiting www.childhelp.org. They are able to help you gain a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made, if you decide to do so.



We want you to be safe even if that means from your own actions of self-harm. https://twloha.com/ is a great resource for finding hope in difficult situations and avoiding self-harm. Your safety is important. If you are in need of extra support, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a helpline that can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET.by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). You can also text "NAMI" TO 741-741 to be connected with a trained crisis counselor available 24/7 and receive support.



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 by local law enforcement. 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.



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

Hi, I'm a 17 year old female. Can I runaway from my parent's house if they emotionally and verbally abuse me. Even due to them always thinking they are right and I ended up in the hospital. As they had disregarded my symptoms and them already "knowing "what I had. Due to their abuse, I had started to self harm. Can I leave and not have police officers looking for me?

[ccsmod0]

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 while living with your dad. You do not deserve to be mentally abused. 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 dad 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.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' 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. Your mom could look into trying to obtain custody of you again so that you would legally be able to live with her rather than your dad.
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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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

Hi i want to leave my dad’s house and go live with my mom. I am 17 and my dad has full custody. When they fought i was 16 and they didn’t ask me who i wanted to live with. I’m tired of my dad’s mental abuse and would like to just leave and go live with my mom. Can he force me to go back? Even if i’m almost 18?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are sorry to hear that you are going through such a difficult time right now, and seems no one has been able to help.

One option to consider would be to call your local court house or police department and ask if they have a MINS/CHINs program. This means a minor in need of supervision, and the program is usually ran through the juvenile court system. The program helps at risk youth and youth who are constantly running away or not following any rules.

Another resource that may be helpful to you is called National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which they may provide additional help and resources for you. They can be reached at 1800-843-5678. We would be able to offer you additional resources if you call us because we would be able to give you direct resources in your city.

We wish you the best of luck in your situation, we are available to you 24/7. Please feel free to give us a call or chat with us at any time. Best of luck!
NRS

My daughter is 15 and goes and comes as she please, since I no longer share custody. I'm sure this was going on behind my back on my no n visitation days.
I consulted with behavioral healthcare but she refused to go. She's missing online school and she is on drugs and alcohol, with a abuse issue. No one in Arizona will help. Called the police, but they did nothing. And the state has no forms to have children turned over to the hospital.

They just wait until CPS, gets involved thus causing the parent to have a CPS case. There is no solution. I feel hopeless. I want know real number of organizations that can help. Also , a parent harboring my 15 year old daughter took her to get a tattoo, buys her and other teenagers drugs and alcohol, and let's them get involved with sexual acts at her house ( 6580 west Puget, Glendale, AZ).

The police won't do anything because the lady is privilege. When I showed up at her door the last time , she stood at the door and said " what do you want", " why are you here?:, as if she wasn't harboring my child for days. Now if I were to shot her I would be wrong.

There is NO help for teenagers in Arizona. Only if you " get in trouble ", for not being a good parent or your to blame in a negative way.

I have been seeking help for 2 years now and it appears that the teenagers in Arizona have the same rights as adults, and adults who harbor child in Arizona have no consequences.

The only way to get help for a runaway in the state of Arizona , is to be deemed as an " unfit parent ", and here comes help to the rescue !!


What a joke. And fyi, no I'm not planning on hurting myself or anyone else, I'm just giving an example.

Please send real organizations that don't involve days of intakes, (that children won't be around for, BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNAWAYS), that will physical get involved ( pick minors up and group home or rehab them), and actually care.

Maybe the Government in Arizona need to come up with some reform for the youth. I will never give up on my child, but she will cause me problems with the school, and other things. and there is no LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO PROTECT MYSELF, in the state of Arizona.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that you have had such a tough time with your guardian. It sounds like your guardian has made it very difficult for you to secure care for yourself, and you have questions about what might happen if you leave. Although we are not legal experts, we can share general information that may be able to help.

First, please know that you have the right to contact your local child protective services agency to report your guardian If you feel that your guardian is neglecting your health. If you do not know how to reach them, organizations like Child Help can help you identify the agency nearest you. They can be reached at: 1-800-422-4453, for text and call services, and www.childhelp.org for live chat. If you have questions about what the process may look like, would like help calling to make a report, or even if you’d like someone to talk to, you can reach out to us. We are here for you.

If you decide to leave and you are a minor in your state, your guardian has the right to report you as a runaway to your local police department. From what we understand, although it is not illegal to run away, it is considered a status offense in some states. Typically, if a report is made and local police find you, they return you to your legal guardian or have your guardian pick you up. Your local police department’s non-emergency number is the best place to call if you’d like specifics on how your local police department handles runaway reports. If you decide to leave and you need a safe place to stay, please give us a call. We will do our best to identify shelters in your area that may be able to take you in.

Whatever you do, please know that we are here for you. We cannot tell you what to do, but we will do our best to help you stay safe regardless of what you decide. We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

im 17 years old and im going thru rough times i can't get medical attention or anything until im 18 because my guardian won't follow thru with anything I've been kicked out and then threatened to call the police if i didn't return i want to leave but i have no job housing anything if i choose to leave can police force me to go back home

[ccsmod15]

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 your boyfriend is faced with right now and you’re wanting to find a way to help them as they mentioned going through physical and emotional abuse. It’s great that your boyfriend has your support and concern from you especially since this time is quite difficult for them.
You mentioned some things that raise concern for their safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, they 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.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of. We are here as support to help you and your friend through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat. 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).
We’re here to listen and to help and hope you or your friend can reach out soon.
Take care,
NRS

My boyfriend is 17 in Arizona. His physical and mentally abusive father kicked him out twice in 3 days. He left because he thought he was kicked out, but the police returned him home. It is not unlikely that his father lied to the police about many things. Now my boyfriend is back home, but I know his dad intends to socially isolate him. He cut off internet access, most likely won't let him leave, and has starved him in the past so I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't eat today.
What do I do?