I am 14 and want to runaway to an orphanage

[Unregistered]

Hi,
I wanted to know if I can run away and go to an orphanage without letting my parents know where I am. Please help me with this situation.

[ccsmod9]

RE: I am 14 and want to runaway to an orphanage

Hello There,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like there’s a lot going on at home that would make you want to leave without telling your parents. We want you to know that we think you’re really brave for reaching out to us today. We want to invite you to call us here if you’d like to talk about this a little more and maybe we can think of a plan together. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). If you don’t think that will work, you could always try our Live Chat right here on this website.
The reason we’d like to talk to you is that we think you might have some misconceptions about what could happen if you ran away. As far as we know there are no orphanages anymore. Instead, there are organizations like Child Protective Services in place who try to help kids in bad homes or find places for kids with no homes to live. If you ran away and the police found you, sometimes they call CPS who would then try to locate your parents.
We hope this clears up some things for you. It sounds like there might be a need to figure out a new plan. We can help you with that. Please consider calling in so we might work together on thinking one up.
All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 15 and i been a runaway for almost three months now , and i am now in another city from where i ran away from and i feel much happier and safer , i have passed by many police officers and they dont stop to tell me anything , i live out my lufe like a normal person , my old identity is gone , my new one has began , if you did run away then you can always find a way to keep yourself self and get help , your not the only one , theres more like us out there

[ccsmod6]

Hi,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We are really glad that you are happy and in a safe place right now! Though we are happy everything worked out for you, we still want you and other youth to know that unfortunately running away may not be as successful of a case for all youth who try it. Before running away it is always great to make a plan and see if you can survive on your own and whether or not you would be safe on the streets, and maybe even to start planning what you would do if you were put into a dangerous situation or someone dangerous approached you. Also - if you are in another city or state that is far away from your home town the police may detain you until your parent or guardian can pick you up.

If you want any resources or just want to talk about what you're going through please don't hesitate to reach out to us again! We wish you the best of luck with everything.

[Guest]

Hey, I’m 12 and want to run away to an orphanage. Will they have to call the fuzz or take away my phone or call my parents? Pls tell me! I leave Sunday!!

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. We have a database of resources and if you’re able to call in, we can try to brainstorm with you and get a better idea of your situation. If you are thinking about running away and somewhere to stay, we can try to find a runaway shelter for you. Unfortunately, we are non-directive at NRS, and can't give out advice, but we're always here to talk and listen.

Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website, unfortunately, it is not always open. The best way to contact us would be to call in and talk with our trained liners.

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

Hie I am 20 years old and my dad doesn't want me to get graduated n he just wants me to stay home and get married which I don't wanna do. Please help I can't stay at home anymore

[ccsmod0]

Hello,
After reading your post we found that there are some similarities that you share with other users. We have attached a response that we have given to another user that we think might be useful for you as well. If you have any follow up questions please feel free to give us a call anytime. 1-800-786-2929

re: My mom try to take over my life!!

Hey there,

Thank you for being able to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline, it seems like you are going through a pretty rough time at this point in your life. We want you to know that we are here to listen and to help you in the best way we can. From what you shared, it sounds like you are pretty set on leaving home.

We want to start off by letting you know that we are not legal experts here but we are able to speak generally about your situation. In most states, once you are 18, you are able to decide where you want to live- regardless of whether you go to school or not. As we mentioned earlier, we are not legal experts here but if you would want to accurately know what would happen, it would be best if you were to reach out to your local police department and ask that general question. If you are nervous about calling the police, you are also able to give us a call and we would be able to call your local police department for you. As for the information you are asking about your car, which is another area that we actually wouldn’t be able to talk about. Perhaps you can try contacting your car dealership or you can contact your insurance company and ask some general questions.

We hope that we were able to give you some general information about the questions you ask. If you have any further questions or would just like to talk to us about your options, please feel free to give us a call. We are here 24/7 and would love to hear from you, our number it 1-800-RUNAWAY. We also have a live chat service which is available every day from 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM CST. We wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you decide to do and hope to hear from you soon.

Stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi , I’m 14 years old and I don’t want to live with my family and knowing if i runway I will be found is their anyway that I can be put into a orphanage or foster home I can go to and not letting my parents know what I’m doing?

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We're not legal experts, but often the foster care system is used as a last resort and placement isn't easy. If a youth runs away or wants to be placed somewhere not with their parents, they would try to place the youth with other relatives and friends of the family before putting them in the system. If there is abuse in the home or you want to talk to a liner more about your situation so we can best help, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929.

Stay safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hey, I am 12 years old and my parents are great, but when my dad gets mad at one of us he will hit us, or hurt us, not badly, but it is very upsetting. No bruises or scratches are left, and I don't think it is abuse, but I am worried it might get worse. I have two younger brothers, and they make my parents go crazy. I want to know how other adults might respond to a situation like their son cursing instead of hitting. I have thought about running away, and I realized it wasn't a good idea. But I don't know how to respond.

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for taking the time to reach out. We recognize how hard it can be to ask for help, but we're so happy you came to us since that's what we're here for. It sounds like you're going through a really hard time and can only imagine how things are for you right now.

In terms of abuse, no one ever deserves to be hit, no matter what they've done and at any time. You don't deserve to be treated like that. You have every right to report his abuse. You can report this via Child Help at 1-800-422-4453. We can also help you report this if you call our crisis center at 1-800-786-2929. We're here 24/7. If you call Child Help they can also help with defining what abuse is. They will help you with what's going on at home and how it might be classified. If you go to childhelp.org they have great resources there also.

In terms of how other adults react, it's hard to say, but they definitely shouldn't be hitting. One option might be to have another discussion with your dad and let him know exactly how you're feeling. If you know other adults or family it could be an option to talk to them and have them talk to your dad also. If you have a guidance counseler at school that might be an option. We also have a conference calling service where we could talk to both you and your dad if you think that would help. If you need a distraction, it can really help sometimes too to take your mind off things by taking part in sports, watching movies, or listening to music.

We're glad you've thought about running away and that it might not be the best idea. When thinking of running away you always want to think about how you'd suvive and be safe. Your parents can always have you returned as well. Remember though that your safety is always of the most importance to us.

Hopefully we've provided some good information. Remember that we're here 24/7 should you ever want to talk to us at 1-800-786-2929. Best of luck!

[Guest]

If I runaway can i go to a group home

[ccsmod9]

Hello-
Thanks for reaching out to NRS we understand it can be a difficult time right now and commend you for reaching out and seeking help. Our goal is to inform you as best we can about what your options are.
As far as runaway to a group home there are a number of things that we’d have to know. Things like your age, where you are living, etc. We suggest perhaps calling us and seeing what your options are through there or even using our chat option online. Please know we would love to continue this talk in order to best help you get the resources you need.
Again we want to thank you for contacting us in your time of need. We know that at times like these it can be hard to feel like there is a way out. We hope that the options provided for you were enough to help you make an informed decision. If for any reason you have more questions or concerns you can call us at (1-800-786-2929) or use our chat option online at (www.1800runaway.org).
Best Wishes - NRS

[Guest]

I'm 14 and I want to runaway right now, I don't want anyone to know, I don't know where to go, what to bring, and I don't want to be alone.

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. We have a database of resources and if you’re able to call in, we can try to brainstorm with you and get a better idea of your situation. If you have run away and somewhere to stay, we can try to find a runaway shelter for you.

Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website, if you’re not comfortable talking on the phone. The best way to contact us would be to call in and talk with our trained liners.

Be well, NRS

[ccsmod3]

First of all, thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time at home and you’re thinking about where else you can go. Although you didn’t give much information, it is clear you are thinking through this plan so that you are prepared.
Typically, the safest place to leave is with a friend of the family or a safe relative. In some cases, you may even be able to get your parents’ permission to stay with this person for a certain amount of time. When that isn’t possible, another safe option is to stay with a friend you trust.
You may also consider trying to go to a shelter but it can be difficult to run away from home to a shelter. Many shelters won’t accept youth who are currently living at home, and most have a goal to reunify you with family so they wouldn’t support your goal of running away from home. They usually also require an ID. However, if you’d like to pursue this, please give us a call and we can look up shelters local to you and help you call them if you’d like.
Again, we are so glad you reached out for help. Whatever you are going through, we are here to listen and help. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

hi, I'm 13 and need a place to stay that ISN'T in Australia preferably a farm in France. my parents hate me please help.....
lots of love Eva

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Hotline. This hotline only has resources in United States. If you want to move from Australia and go somewhere like France, then you will need to look for resources in those countries. We are here 24/7 and you can contact us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

[Guest]

I’m 12 and I wanna run away

[ccsmod6]

Hi, and thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We aren’t legal experts, but we have general knowledge about running away. In most states, running away isn’t illegal, but what is called a status offense. You can’t get arrested for it but it will mostly likely go on your record until you are 18. The police will only know if you have runaway if your parents/guardians file a police report. We can’t say for sure how the police will respond, but we hear a lot that police will take potential places you might be and will actively search for you. If they come across you, the most likely will return you home to your parents. Sometimes we hear that if you are staying with someone who knows you are a runaway and are not actively trying to return you or finding shelter for you, your guardians/or police can press charges against the people who are housing you, with something that is called harboring. One of our main goals is to make sure you are safe, so if you ever seriously decide to run away and need shelter, resources, or a safe place to go you can find safe locations at nationalsafeplace.org or reach out to us directly and we can find local resources in your area. If you would like to talk more about what's going on, please reach out to us at our 24/7 hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY or on chat at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

Hi. I’m 13 and I’ve been going through some stuff at home. My mum would get furious over the smallest and most minor things that aren’t even my fault , and start throwing things, yelling and screaming. My parents don’t respect me or my feelings and always jump into conclusions. I’m starting to feel depressed.

[ccsmod7]

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.

[Guest]

Hello I'm 14 and want to run away from my self my own identity but I have nowhere to go because it's the middle of winter where currently am but I have no money and don't get a job until March what do i do and where do I go

[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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS feels our live resources can help gather data we would need in order to give you resources. If would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS