what can I say or do to help the child or teen I care about?

If your child has run call Police agencies:

Call local police to report your child missing
Make sure that your child's name is entered in the National Crime lnformation Center computer
Make sure the police send information to the state clearinghouse for missing children, if there is one in your state.

What motivates young people today to run away?
What are the warning signs?
How can I help?
visit our forum on running
download info on running (pdf)
see kids' resources on running

If you are concerned that it is not safe for a child or teen to return home, they are in need of immediate help.

Call the Covenant House Nineline at 1-800-999-9999; TTY: 1-800-999-9915 or follow this link to the Nineline Forum on running away. The Nineline staff is ready to talk with you any time of day.
You talk. We'll listen.

Other resources we recommend include:

Child Help USA, 1-800-422-4453

National Runaway Switchboard, 1-800-621-4000
NEED TO TALK? Call the NINELINE - Hotline at 1-800-999-9999 (TTY: 1-800-999-9915), or e-mail us. It's free, it's confidential, it's 24/7, and it's for you! Hablamos Español.