NCJ Number
108885
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (1987) Pages: 531-543
Date Published
1987
Length
543 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the results of a survey of runaway and homeless youth who were interviewed on the street in Calgary, Canada.
Abstract
The survey began in the last week of August 1984 and was completed at the end of July 1985. Runaway and homeless youth were interviewed on the street the last week of every month on 5 week nights from late afternoon until 2 a.m. The data taken from the 489 interviews and subsequent analysis show 2 distinct groups emerging, generating a tentative hypothesis that the true 'runners' tend to leave their homes with the intention of not returning and thus their runs are extended; the second group, designated 'ins and outers', use the run as a temporary coping mechanism. Their runs tend to be impulsive and of short duration. It was found that runaways, particularly the runners, are at great risk of being drawn into illegal activities. Distance from home and length of time on the run are two major factors affecting this risk. A significant proportion of the youth interviewed had run from substitute care arrangements, and a disturbing implication emerging from the research is that adolescents suffer systemic abuse and neglect. One outcome of this research project was the opening of a safe house in January 1987 for early runners, with operation of the house including careful compilation of data to further advance understanding of the runaway population and its needs. 5 tables, 1 appendix, and 19 references. (Author abstract modified)