Runaway Youths
Conclusion
The problems associated with running away are multifaceted. Children and adolescents who leave home in the hopes of a better life on their own lose far more than a mere roof over their head. They lose the social and emotional support that comes with a loving family; they lose the feelings of security that only parents can provide. As education becomes a distant and fleeting memory, these children likewise lose the desire and opportunity to excel and compete with others from their own age cohort. They are truly the forgotten children, and attempts to understand and accommodate these vulnerable youths should be imperative. Running away is not an idyllic rite of passage for young people. It is not Huckleberry Finn floating down the Mississippi on a homemade raft. It is a harsh and brutal reality for millions of children worldwide, and it is a reality that needs to be addressed immediately. Programs such as the National Runaway Switchboard have made great strides in understanding and assisting these youngsters, but more attention must be paid to the international runaway problem, as the experiences of these impoverished children are far more intense and undoubtedly more dismal.
See also: CHILD ABUSE: PHYSICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT; CHILD ABUSE: PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT; CHILD ABUSE: SEXUAL ABUSE; CHILDHOOD, STAGES OF: ADOLESCENCE; CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS; CONDUCT DISORDER; GANGS; GRIEF, LOSS, AND BEREAVEMENT; JUVENILE DELINQUENCY; MISSING CHILDREN; POVERTY
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Other Resources
Covenant House. (2002). Available from http://www.covenanthouse.org.
National Runaway Switchboard. (1998). Available from http://www.nrscrisisline.org.
Peace Corps. (2002). Available from http://www.peacecorps.gov.
SARAH MICHELLE STOHLMAN
ROBYN BATEMAN DRISKELL
Additional topics
Marriage and Family EncyclopediaFamily Social IssuesRunaway Youths - Defining The Concept Of A Runaway, Categories Of Runaways, Historical Patterns Of Runaways, Demographic Considerations