Ohio

[Guest]

I am 16 and I live in Ohio. I know that I legally cannot get emancipated, but I need to leave home to be mentally stable. Is it illegal for me to run away?

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for contacting NRS,
We are sorry to hear that you are not doing well at home. It is not okay to feel unstable in a place that is supposed to make you feel safe. From what we understand about your situation it seems like home might be a place where you are being emotionally abused. If this is the case please know that you can always call the 911 for immediate help. Another thing you can consider doing is reporting what is going on at home by filing a child abuse report. You can choose to do something like that through us here at NRS we can talk and report alongside you to help make you feel a bit more confident either through chat or out hotline. Another resource to help report child abuse is called Child Help (www.childhelp.org, 800-422-4453) they specialize in reporting with youth as well.

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. 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