I am 14 and want to runaway to an orphanage

[Guest]

I'm only 10 and I want to run to a orphanage BC my mom gets mad for no reason I say it wasn't me BC it wasn't me she says it's always not me and it's got to the point were I dream suicide :/

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are being blamed for things that you haven't done and your mom gets mad and it is really taking a toll on you. That cannot be easy. Here at NRS, we truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time.

You mentioned that you dream of suicide. It takes a lot of strength to reach out for help, and we are so glad that you did. Your life has worth and our top priority is your safety. If you feel this is an emergency you could consider calling 911 for emergency assistance. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can, and we can help you find resources that can help you cope with these feelings. You do not have to face this alone, and there is so much help out there for you. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide Hotline could be a good resource for you. You can check them out at www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help and support any time. You can also call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) if you need to talk.

If you haven't already, you might try to talk to your mom about how you are feeling. You so deserve to be heard and to get the help you need. You might see if there is anyway you can see a counselor to talk about how you are feeling.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

[Guest]

Hey, I'm 16 old and I don't have any parents or guardian and I need some place to stay, help me please I am alone

[ccsmod15]

Hi there. We want to help but need a bit more information from you to do so. Please give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us by clicking on the chat feature at the top of our webpage: www.1800runaway.org. We can discuss trying to track down your caseworker so you can find a place to stay. We also have shelter resources around the country that might be an option for you.

We hope to hear from you soon!

[Guest]

I’m someone who doesn’t love their family and wants to leave for good

[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 contacting us. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You can contact us if you would like 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.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Idk what to do I want to get away from my family,what do I do???

[ccsmod15]

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline.
First off, it’s great that you’re reaching out to us to get some information on your situation before taking any action. That can be hard to do.
I’m sorry that you have to deal with family issues that are difficult and the cause for you wanting to leave your family. That sounds very challenging. Regarding running away, if you’re a minor, which you are until 18 (although it does depends on the state you live in), your legal guardians, (parents usually), have responsibility for you in the eyes of the law. Therefore, if you run away, your parents would likely file a runaway report to the police. The police would then look for you, and when they find you, they would return you to your legal guardians. Further, an orphanage wouldn’t just take in a youth without first investigating the situation and making sure that there are no legal guardians that the child would need to be reunited with.
Other options involve investigating whether you can live with another family (e.g. other relatives, friend’s families), with your parents’ permission. If your parents are in agreement, you could have alternative living arrangement documentation signed by both the other family and your parents giving permission to this arrangement. Your school counselor can help you with the documentation needed for such an arrangement. Finally, the more complicated legal issue is emancipation from your parents. This is a more drawn out legal process that involves going to court. You would need to retain an attorney to represent you and this takes several months.

I hope this answers your question. If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to call the Runaway Safeline at 1-800-786-2929. We are here 24/7 and all calls are anonymous. Thanks for reaching out.
National Runaway Safeline

[Guest]

Hi I’m 14 and I been going thru a lot at home,mostly it’s my mom always wanting to argue with me,but it’s gotten so bad that they lock me out the house and Id have had fist fights with my dad.They say it always my fault and ********,but they always start everything from the smallest things,I really love my parents but someone times I fell as I should be somewhere else I don’t fill safe anymore and my mom is just straight up crazy.But I have always hidden my family stuff, as in school people will probably describe me as social and fun to hangout with.What should I do?

[ccsmod10]

Hello,

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you 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.

Please be safe and reach out soon by phone or chat so that we may help.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and my father passed away years ago so I live with my mother but I hate it because when something isn't her way she would hit me like I was her age I have had many bruses and I've also been to the doctor because of her can you pls tell me how to runaway without her finding out

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

You are really brave for reaching out for help and sharing a bit about your situation. Hitting is never okay and your mom should not be treating you like that. It is her responsibility as a your parent to make you feel safe and taken care of. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel safe and loved.

From what we know, if you runaway your mom can make a runaway report with the police. Running away is not illegal, but it means that the police will return you home.

You do have the option of making a child abuse report to get a social worker involved to help. A social worker's job is to help you and make sure you have somewhere safe to live. You do not have to do this alone. You can contact the national child abuse hotline to talk more about your situation and receive support through the reporting process to get a trusted adult involved to intervene.

You can call or chat with us anytime (1-800-786-2929 ; 1800runaway.org) if you would like to talk more about your situation at home and explore your options. We are here 24/7 to listen and help.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I'm 12 year old
and I wan't to runaway I have depression every time I try to talk to a teacher about my depression I always lied because I don't wan't anyone to know don't get me wrong I love my parent but I fell that I wan't good enough for them and my two older brothers hates me I just want to be in another place were my family is not don't contact my parent if I runaway I will leave them a note, just tell me when, and what I need to pack I will be waiting for your response (I live in Wisconsin)

[ccsmod16]

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through a really tough time. We understand it takes great courage to share about this, and we commend you for seeking help.

It sounds like you are looking to run away. 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. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. If you feel like running anyway, it is important that you have a place to go, and that you know how to survive once there. We hope that your depression lifts soon. It is important you know that you are good, and you are worthy of love. There is help for you. While you may not feel comfortable talking about your situation with teachers, you may feel better around a school counselor. Friends are another great resource for this.

We hope some of this information was useful to you, and that you are feeling more hopeful. If you want to talk further about your plan to run away, we would love to help you work things out. We are available 24/7 at 1800runaway.org (for live chat) or at 1-800-786-2929 (for phone). Good luck with everything.

Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I am 13 years old and I wanna run away from home. I feel like I am in hell but even worse. My parents SUCK at parenting I just wish I was never born. My parents dont physically hurt me but mentaly they do from what comes out of there mouth. I have been told 'I hate you" from my mom. she has also told me that she wishes I was died. I remember it like it was just yesterday that when I was 8 years old she told me I look like a pregnant 8 year old when was 8. Can you just imagine what that does to an 8 year old. My dad then always talks crap about me when i am upstairs. He literally does everything in his power to make my mom get mad at dumb ass. Jesus Christ he pisses me off. He makes me feel like I am a piece of trash. He treats my step sisters WAYYYYYYYYY BETTERRRRRR then he treats me. I litterally have no pics with him on the wall its all him and my step sisters. He buys me nothing literally everything that is in my closet is what my mom bought me and I am greatfull for. I love my mom I just feel like my dad is like making her into a phsyco. She does her best but I just feel like she got something wrong with her in her brain she doesnt seem healthy to me. She just pisses me off when she calls me names that make me feel like trash.

[ccsmod6]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us and sharing what has been going on at home lately. We're sorry that you're going through this. You don't deserve to be treated disrespectfully. While we're not legal experts here at NRS, generally speaking, youth can't runaway to an orphanage, as orphanages and foster care are services for youth whose parents or legal guardians have lost custody. There are emergency shelters that can offer temporary help to youth, and we can look into available shelters in your area if you call or chat with us.

If you feel like it would be helpful to talk about the way you feel your parents are treating you, you could reach out to a school counselor/social worker to help mediate a conversation between the three of you. You can also call us directly if you would like, and we can help arrange a conference call with your parents to help open up a dialogue and allow you to express your feelings in a safe space. It might also be helpful to write down some of your thoughts in a journal or email and allow your mom or dad to reply. That might be a way to cool down the conversation and ensure they're hearing your feelings and concerns.

Again, we're really sorry this is happening at home. If you want to talk about what's going on in more depth, or if you'd like to talk through other options please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat with us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and help.

All our best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey I'm 16 about to be 17 in a month i'm living in Wisconsin with my dad and step mom and want to move with my real mom back in California. I do not want to live here anymore due to problems with my step mom. I do not have a job or any money to move there by myself.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It seems like you are going through a difficult time right now.
We are not legal experts but because you are a minor if you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report on you. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. One option to consider is to talk with your family about what has been going on and see what your options may be. Another option to consider would be to talk with a school counselor about what has been going on. Sometimes talking with a professional can help you feel better.
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 here 24/7 to listen and provide support to you. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

hi, i'm 14 and i want to runaway with my sister (16).

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. 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.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe.

[Guest]

Hey, I'm 14 years old and i want to run away without telling my family about it. what can i do?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for contacting NRS 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 with figuring out your next steps in this difficult situation. Asking for help was really responsible and smart of you. We are sorry to hear things are so unstable at home. You deserve to live somewhere that makes you feel safe and supported.

Generally speaking, your parents are your legal guardians until you turn 18, so they can decide where you live. If you do choose to leave without permission, your parents can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that if your parents know where you are staying then they can have the police return you home.

The easiest way to leave home as a minor is with your parents’ permission. In this case, they would be allowing you to live somewhere else where you are safe and being cared for. A helpful step is to start reaching out to friends and family members you might be able to stay with. Sometimes having an adult advocate on your side can make communicating your needs more effective to your parents. Perhaps an adult family member, a friend's parent or a counselor at school can talk to your parents with you about your experience at home and the possibility of you leaving.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i wunt to run away but i do not no were to go or how not to get cot can you help me without my parents noing

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out; we are glad that you did. We would like to help you, but the best way for us to do that is to be able to talk with you about what life is like for you. If you reach out to us either by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY or using our live chat through www.1800runaway.org we would be able to help by listening and helping you to figure out the help you need.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 11 probably the youngest here and I want to runaway I tried it once and I got caught now I want to try it again an go even further so I won’t get caught

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your guardians 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 guardian. 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.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 14 my stepdad abuses me and I just can’t take it anymore

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like your stepdad abuses you and that you want to runway to a shelter and orphanage.
It is understandable to want to be safe from someone who is hurting you.

We want to help you to be safe. We are here to listen and help you. The very best way for us to help you is if we can talk with you. You can call us on our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-runaway) or via life chat through www.1800runaway. Either way, we are here for you 24/7

Another thing you can do is to reach out to a trusted adult and tell them what is happening. Maybe you can think of a teacher or family member or the parent of one of your friends. Whatever you decide to do, we are here for you.

We hope to hear from you soon,
NRS