Why kids run away

Maureen Blaha, Executive Director of the National Runaway Switchboard, explains some of the most common reasons that kids run away from home
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Why kids run away

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The number one reason kids run from home is because of family dynamics. That statistic is really born out of the National Runaway Safeline as well, where about 41 percent of our callers talk about family dynamics as their reason for running. That really covers the gamet from divorce, parents arguing in the home, perhaps problems with siblings. It could also be that there is also a new marriage in the home and the adolescents are feeling like, "Where do I fit into this new situation?" Beyond family dynamics, is abuse. That would be the second reason why kids are calling the National Runaway Safeline, either abuse in the home that's related to sexual abuse of physical abuse. Often times kids run because they want to get away from the immediate pain that's going on in the home, but they don't really have a plan of what they are going to do after that. I think it's really important for people to understand that kids who run away from home are not bad kids, but often kids running from bad situations.
TEEN, Parenting Teens, At Risk Youth

Maureen Blaha, Executive Director of the National Runaway Switchboard, explains some of the most common reasons that kids run away from home

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Maureen Blaha

NRS Executive Director

Maureen Blaha is the executive director of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), the federally-designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth.  Under her leadership the visibility of NRS and awareness of its 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline has grown, while support has steadily increased in both personnel and finances. Several key accomplishments have been realized during Blaha’s tenure including: a program focused on runaway prevention called Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum; a comprehensive trend data report of crisis calls to 1-800-RUNAWAY used to educate and raise awareness about the runaway crisis in America; “Runaway Youth Longitudinal Study 2011” research that identifies the long-term effects of running away as a youth, which can be used to better educate and encourage parents, teachers and other adults to get involved, address the issues, and ultimately prevent a runaway situation; and National Runaway Prevention Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the issues facing runaway youth and to educate youth, families and the public about resources available to prevent youth from running away.  Additionally, Blaha has been a featured speaker of the Special Victims Assistance Unit for the FBI (2005 and 2010), was invited to speak to UK parliament to help launch The Children's Society of England's national Safe and Sound Campaign (2005), and represented the runaway population at the groundbreaking White House Conference on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children (2002).  Blaha was selected as the recipient of the CASA of Cook County 2010 Spirit Award and selected to participate in the Laura and John Arnold Giving Library for high-end donors. Blaha serves on the Interstate Commission for Juveniles, appointed in 2009. 

At Risk Youth, At Risk Youth
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