This document describes a study of runaways (N=149) at a Toronto, Canada shelter which examined why urban adolescents run away from home; the role of sexual abuse in the life histories of runaways; and why runaways return home. The report begins with a discussion about adolescents at risk, with a definition of terms, numbers of runaways, and a new…

The text of the final Congressional hearing on H.R. 1801, a bill to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act for 4 more years, is presented in this document. Introductory statements are given by Congressmen Dale E. Kildee and Tom Lewis. Testimony by these witnesses is included: (1) Ernest E. Allen, chairman of the board of…

A profile and needs assessment of runaway and homeless children was produced using survey data gathered from 210 youth services agencies throughout the United States. The National Network of Runaway and Youth Services conducted this survey to provide policymakers and the media with information about successful, cost-effective crisis intervention…

Discusses the lives and feelings of homeless youth living in the streets of America's cities. Includes a photo essay on street youth expressing their desperation and alienation in graffiti. (KH)

Compared teenage runaways to teenage nonrunaways concerning their views on parenting behaviors. Runaways emphasized typical teenage issues such as differences in values from parents and rebellion, while nonrunaways gave highest ratings to more dramatic issues such as parental abuse and drug use, as reasons for running away. (Author/ABB)

Efforts to locate missing children have expanded from a federal law allowing for entry of information into an F.B.I. computer system to companion bills before Congress for establishing a national missing child clearinghouse and a Justice Department center to help in conducting searches. Private organizations are also involved. (KS)

Focuses on the perceptions of parents of adolescent runaways. Parents were questioned about the extent to which they felt empathetic understanding and positive regard from their children and were asked to report their perceptions of why their children ran away and to describe specific precipitating incidents. Implications for practice are pointed…

People on the road seem to arrange themselves according to three main types: students, street and road people, and runaways. From the perspective of conventional society road people are threatening, for the latter have defined dropping out in a way at least appealing to those who cannot conform to the responsibilities of adulthood. (Author)

Explored suicidal behavior in 291 adolescents using runaway shelters in St. Louis. Found 30 percent of runaways reported having attempted suicide in past. Suicide attempters had significantly more behavioral and mental health problems, and reported having more family members and more friends with problems, than nonattempters. Substance use,…

Assessed general knowledge of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), beliefs about preventing AIDS, and sexual behavior among 60 sexually delinquent and 57 nondelinquent runaway adolescent males. Sexually delinquent youths scored significantly lower than nondelinquent youths in general knowledge of AIDS and were not able to discriminate safer…

Investigated differences in family variables between adult felons on probation from alcoholic homes (n=43) and those from nonalcoholic homes (n=53). Found significant differences in family violence, abuse, delinquency, running away, and addiction, suggesting that probationers from substance abusing families have significantly more family…

Determined drug use and abuse patterns of homeless/runaway youths (n=253) and compared them to similar data collected from adolescents in school. Comparisons showed that drug use and abuse was two to three times more prevalent for runaways than for school youths. Runaways' attitudes toward selected illicit behaviors were more tolerant than those…

Reports on "Runaway with Words," a poetry workshop for at-risk teens in Florida's runaway shelters. Describes how, through various exercises, oral recitations, and conversations, troubled teens learn basic writing skills that help them gain control over their emotions. (SR)

A study conducted functional analyses of the elopement of three children (ages 4-11) with developmental disabilities. The results identified a maintaining reinforcer for the elopement of one child and reinforcer assessments clarified the reinforcers for the other two. Results of the assessments were then used to develop successful treatments.…

Investigates the effects of early sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among female homeless, runaway adolescents. Results indicate that early sexual abuse in the home had a positive direct effect on sexual victimization of adolescents on the street. The social context of street life puts these adolescents in close proximity to potential…