WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

http://girlshealth.gov/feelings/runaway/index.html

Does This Runaway, Homeless Girl Know It Is The International Day of The Girl Child?

Running away

Many teens think about running away from home at some point. If you are thinking about running away, you can get help, and you can learn more about life as a runaway.

If you are thinking about running away

Running away comes with a lot of possible problems. Teens who run away face a high risk of living on the streets, going hungry, and other serious worries. If you are thinking about running away, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Get help

Are you thinking about running away? Are you already on the streets? If so, contact 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929) for services and support. If you or a friend needs a safe place to go, you also can text the word SAFE to 69866. And if you have run away and want to go home, you may be able to get a free bus ticket .

· Are there things you can do to improve the situation at home?

· What would make it okay to stay at home?

· Where will you stay if you leave?

· What will you do for money and food?

· Is running away safe?

· Who can you count on for help?

· Are you being realistic about what life would be like if you leave?

· What are your other options?

· If you end up in trouble, who will you call?

· If you want to go home, what will happen?

If you are thinking about running away, contact the USA National Runaway Safeline  for help. You can contact them by phone, email, live chat, or bulletin board. The service is free, anonymous, and open 24 hours a day.

The safeline can help you talk through what's going on. If staying home is your best option, they can help you deal with problems there. If you are going to leave, they can help you with possible ways to stay safe. Watch a video to learn more about what happens when you contact the safeline.