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Runaways
The Reality of Running Away
Child sexual exploitation
Crisis hotlines for runaways
If you are in a physically abusive household,
call a crisis hotline before you run away. Running away will not
improve your life. Finding help will. Please see our Abuse
section.
The Reality of Running Away
When you run away, where will you live. What
will you eat. What clothes will you wear. How will you make money
to survive when no business will hire a minor during school hours.
It's incredibly difficult to make enough money to live in today's
world as an independent minor, unless you resort to illegal activities.
If a person convinces you to run away, how will you survive once
they abandon you. What guarantee do you have that they won't abandon
you or take advantage of you.
Most runaways survive by selling their bodies
for money in return for a horrible life enslaved by a physically
abusive, violently oppressive pimp. Another alternative is to work
for a drug dealer. Drugs are a very dangerous business. It's very
likely you will become addicted to the drugs you are dealing. Your
life will likely be in danger due to violent competition between
dealers or an inability to pay for your addiction. Many addicts
are forced to have sex in exchange for more drugs. This lifestyle
could send you to jail or to an early grave. These are scary things
to think about. When your home life seems unbearable or the outside
world seems adventurous, remember, there are people waiting to take
advantage of someone like you, when you runaway. If you are being
abused at home, remember there are places full of people waiting
to help you. If you are abused at home, talk with an adult or call
a crisis hotline. They are waiting for your call right now. Crisis
hotlines for runaways
Teen
Sexual Exploitation
It is without a doubt as ugly as it sounds. It means the illegal
use of minors for sexual purposes, including the following:
Sexual abuse: making sexual
contact with a victim or exposing the victim to inappropriate sexual
activities or material.
Pornography: Coercing a
victim into sexual activity to be recorded or photographed and distributed
on video, print, or digital media.
Prostitution: exchanging
sexual activities for money. The person who coerces the victim into
this activity is known as a "pimp" or "madam."
The word "pimp" is used loosely in music and the media.
In lyrics it is associated with being cool
49% of juvenile prostitutes on the street are female
and 51% are male, both of which serve male clients.
UNICEF, the United Nations Childrens Fund estimates
that at least 1 million children are sexually exploited each year.
There are certain situations that predators look
for. To avoid sexual exploitation:
Do not run away. Running
away will not solve your problems. It can only make you more vulnerable
to predators. Talk to an adult, a teacher, your guidance counselor,
a coach, a minister, a school psychologist, or a crisis center before
you run. Runaways are at high risk for sexual exploitation because
they need money, food and shelter, and quickly use up funds to pay
for it. Pimps recognize runaways as easy prey. They are very skilled
at luring youth and coercing them into terrible dangerous situations.
If you have already runaway read the help section.
Do not take gifts, money, or rides
from a stranger. Even if they are dressed as a police officer,
priest, or soldier, and even if they are well dressed and look friendly.
People can act.
Don't allow yourself to be taken
to unfamiliar, dark or isolated places with people you don't know
well.
Don't let strangers take your
picture. If they do tell your parents or the police.
When you are not at home or school
make sure your parents know where you are, no matter how
much of a pain it is.
Don't enter a home you're not
familiar with, even to baby-sit or use the washroom.
Don't frequent an establishment
that is unsupervised. If you isolate yourself on a regular
basis, a predator can recognize the pattern and take advantage of
it.
Never accept a drink, cigarette or drugs from a stranger.
If you have already
run away
Seriously consider returning home. Many parents seem
like a major pain in the butt. They may seem like they don't care
all that much about you. But underneath, the overwhelming majority
of parents do care about their children. If your home is safe, we
encourage you to go there. If you experienced child abuse and you
feel your home is not safe, then please call one of the following
crisis centers:
Child Abuse
Childhelp USA and National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453
Crisis &
Grief Counseling
Boys Town National Hotline
Crisis counseling for girls and boys and referral to local help
www.ffbh.boystown.org
1-800-448-3000
National Urban
league
Organization that "helps youth fight the temptations of the street"
1-888-326-YOUTH
National Runaway
Switchboard
1-800-621-4000
The National
"YOUTH" Crisis Help line
1-800-999-9999
Kristin Brooks
Hope Center
A national organization that links callers to local crisis centers
www.livewithdepression.org
1-800-SUICIDE
American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Great info on suicide and suicide prevention with useful links
www.afsp.org
1-888-333-AFSP
the Covenant
House
1-800-999-9999 crisis hotline
www.covenanthouse.org/cov/con.htm
Although written for young kids, this site can provide useful information
for adolescence on how to cope with thoughts of
Running away www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_run/kid_run.htm
Suicide www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_sui/kid_sui.htm
Abuse www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_abu/kid_abu.htm
Grief Recovery
Institute
www.grief-recovery.com
1-800-445-4808
Domestic
Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
Drug Abuse
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and National
Hotline
Treatment & referrals
www.samhsa.gov/csat/csat.htm
1-800-662-4357
National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.health.org
1-800-729-6686
Narcotics Anonymous
World Service Office in Los Angeles
An international, community-based association, holding weekly meetings
for recovering drug addicts.
(818) 773-9999 To locate your local chapter
www.na.org/links-toc.htm
Alcoholics
Anonymous
Group support for your addiction to alcohol
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Alcoholics
Anonymous Family Group Headquarters
Group support for those with family members who suffer from alcoholism
www.al-anon-alateen.org
American Cancer
Society Information on quitting smoking
www.cancer.org
1-800-227-2345
Smoking, Tobacco
and Health Information Line
1-800-232-1311
Tips 4 Teens
- Stop Smoking Help
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/osh/tipsteen.htm
Gay & Lesbian Adolescents
National Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual
Youth Hotline
1-800-347-TEEN
National Coalition
for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth
www.outproud.org
Parents, Families,
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org
Homosexual
Adolescents
National Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Youth Hotline
1-800-347-TEEN
National Coalition
for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth
www.outproud.org
Parents, Families,
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org
Rape
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE
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