How We Can Help
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We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Texas Runaway Hotline volunteer telephone counselors are dedicated to helping youths and families in need of assistance. After we've talked about your problem, we will help you consider your choices and develop a sensible solution.
Call 1-888-580-4357 for help!
It’s totally up to you. If you decide you would like us to provide you with the following services, we can help with:
- comprehensive information and referrals to shelter, counseling, medical assistance, and related services;
- confidential conference calls to parents;
- conference calls to shelters and agencies in the caller’s area to confirm appropriate and available services;
- a message relay service that helps runaways contact families on their own terms, which not only helps give parents peace of mind, but promotes communication; and
- assistance to runaways who wish to access Operation Home Free, a service that provides free transportation.
Free confidential calls
There are no costs for our services. Hotline staff and volunteers do not take runaway reports. Callers do not have to give us their names or locations. We offer a safe, non-threatening environment so runaway and troubled youths will call us for help. Our goal is to work with youths, parents, and local community agencies to keep as many youths as possible safe and off the streets.
Running away...a plea for help
- Physical abuse
- Difficulties with parents
- Peer pressure
- School
- Drugs
- Sexual abuse
- Alcoholism
- Sexual identity
- Getting thrown out
These are only a few of the many reasons why young people run away from home. Most are not running to something, but away from overwhelming problems.
Every year 1.3 million youths across the country run away from home and about 5,000 runaway and homeless youths die from assault, illness, and suicide. In Texas, more than 100,000 youths ages 7 to 17 run away annually.