Safe Havens for Runaway Teens

Supporting Teens Who Leave Home Unexpectedly

When a teenager decides to leave home, having a secure and supportive environment is crucial. Runaway shelters provide not only a safe place to stay but also address the underlying challenges that prompted the teen's decision. These shelters assist both teens and their families, facilitating a smoother transition back home or to a stable living situation.

Each year, millions of young people run away from home. Understanding the role of youth shelters, the services they provide, and how they can assist is essential for teens considering running away and for adults seeking help for these youth.

It's important to remember that teens who run away are not "troubled kids" but individuals facing overwhelming stress or conflict in their home environments. These teens come from diverse backgrounds, spanning various economic statuses and geographic locations.

What Defines a Runaway Youth Shelter?

Runaway shelters offer temporary accommodation, nourishment, and specialized counseling to teens who have left home. These facilities provide a secure environment where young people can confront their personal challenges.

Additionally, youth shelters collaborate with families to develop plans addressing the issues that led to the teen's departure, recognizing that family dynamics often play a significant role.

Common family-related factors include:

• Disagreements over household rules
• Parental divorce or custody disputes
• Bereavement within the family
• Teenage parenting challenges
• Complexities in blended or extended families

Other reasons prompting teens to run away include abuse or neglect, mental health struggles, peer conflicts such as bullying, and economic hardships like housing instability.

Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development highlights rising shelter use among transgender youth (29% increase), gender non-conforming youth (26% increase), and Native American youth (21% increase).

Comprehensive Services Offered by Runaway Shelters

One primary aim of these shelters is family reunification when safe and feasible. They work to identify and resolve familial issues or, if necessary, assist teens in finding alternative safe living arrangements.

Services typically include:

• Temporary housing and a secure environment
• Nutritious meals
• Support for education, employment, healthcare, and other essential needs

Therapeutic interventions are a cornerstone of support, addressing mental health symptoms and promoting healthier coping mechanisms.

Therapy options may encompass:

• One-on-one counseling to explore reasons behind running away
• Group sessions with peers facing similar challenges
• Family therapy to tackle collective issues
• Telephone counseling for immediate support

These shelters provide a nurturing space for teens to process their experiences and work towards positive outcomes.

How Runaway Shelters Support Teens

Choosing to seek help at a youth shelter is a constructive step towards healing. Staff members are trained to empathize with and advocate for teens navigating difficult family situations.

Shelters assist by:

• Identifying the root causes prompting the teen to run away
• Planning actionable steps to address these challenges
• Mediating communication between teens and their families
• Establishing agreements outlining expectations for returning home
• Exploring alternative housing options during family conflict resolution
• Connecting teens with local mental health resources
• Providing access to various supportive services addressing personal and familial issues

For teens who have traveled far, some shelters may offer transportation assistance to facilitate a safe return.

Finding a Youth Shelter Near You

Youth can reach out to Safe Place by texting the word SAFE along with their location to 44357, connecting them with nearby shelters.

The National Runaway Safeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY, offering support via phone, text, email, and live chat.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau provides an interactive map to locate shelters and outreach programs nationwide. Searching online for "youth shelters near me" can also yield local options.

Common Questions

• What is the age limit for youth shelters?
  Typically, shelters serve individuals up to age 17. Those 18 and older may access transitional or adult homeless shelters better suited to their needs.
• Are youth shelters safe?
  Research indicates that staying in shelters reduces the risk of physical or sexual victimization compared to sleeping on the streets.
• How do I find a youth shelter nearby?
  Text SAFE and your location to 44357, call 1-800-RUNAWAY, or search online for local youth shelters.

Explore more topics:

• Health Conditions A-Z
• Children's Mental Health

Sources:

1. Family and Youth Services Bureau. Basic center program fact sheet.
2. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. The invisible faces of runaway and homeless youth.
3. National Runaway Safeline. Portrait of a runaway.
4. National Runaway Safeline. 2020 snapshot.
5. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD releases 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report part 1.
6. Noh D. Psychological interventions for runaway and homeless youth. J Nursing Scholarship. 2018;50(5):465-472. doi:10.1111/jnu.12402
7. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Increasing staff skills.
8. Tyler KA, Schmitz RM. Child abuse, mental health and sleeping arrangements among homeless youth: Links to physical and sexual street victimization. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2018;95:327-333. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.018

Article by Kathryn Rudlin, LCSW, a California-based therapist and writer specializing in counseling teens with emotionally disconnected mothers.

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