Child Find offers mediation, conference calls between runaways and their guardians, referrals to shelters, food pantries, transportation, and counseling in an effort to assist runaways and their families. Some runaways report enjoying their experience because of the freedom from school, meeting new people, discovering new places. Many report a neutral experience, neither positive or negative. Others suffer from hunger, cold, illness and fear. Some are victimized by street smart youth and adults.
Some children become involved in crime, prostitution, child pornography, drug abuse.
Still others are beaten, robbed, raped, or jailed. What You Can Do The child talks about running away with friends or about friends running away. The child begins to withdraw more and becomes isolated from family and friends. There is a sudden and abnormal change in mood, depression, anxiety, or behavior. There is a recent family crisis that may trigger feelings from which a child may want to escape, i.e. divorce, remarriage, alcoholism.