National Runaway Safeline

Target demographics: keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.

Geographic areas served: Serving the lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S territories.

Programs: In 2007, the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) handled a record-breaking 176,609 calls through its call center. A complete list of services NRS provides: Crisis Intervention: NRS operates a crisis hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All calls to the crisis line are confidential. The front line team of staff and volunteers receive 40 hours of training to provide non-judgmental and non-directive support. Information & Referrals: A database of more than 16,000 youth and family agencies provides countless options for callers to access counseling, basic center/shelter services, alcohol/drug treatment and child protective services. In addition, NRS maintains a hard copy library of reference materials to supplement the database. Conference Calls: When youth request assistance contacting their family or an agency that can help them, NRS will facilitate a conference call. The front line team member remains on the line with the youth, helping to advocate on their behalf. Message Service: NRS maintains a message service for youth who want to relay a message but are not ready to communicate directly with their parent. NRS' message service is a less intimidating means for a youth to reestablish contact with their parent/guardian and often serves as the first step toward reunification. Home Free: In partnership with Greyhound Lines Inc., NRS helps reunite runaway youth with their families through a free bus ticket home. Over 10,000 youth have been reunited with families through the Home Free Program since 1995. Let's Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum: NRS has produced a new 14-module curriculum for youth to develop life skills. Complete with an eight-minute film, 1-800-RUNAWAY, this free curriculum is available on a CD or for download at 1800RUNAWAY.org. Prevention and Educational Materials: NRS provides educational and promotional material free of charge to individuals, schools and organizations to distribute within their community. Kids Call: Through this innovative program, teens and pre-teens can openly discuss issues and challenges of youth. Kids Call provides trained NRS staff via teleconference to talk about alternatives to running away. www.1800RUNAWAY.org: NRS' website has three main goals: to direct calls to the hotline so that youth and families can receive individualized attention and support; to engage youth and families so they can access critical information before a runaway episode occurs; and to disseminate information about NRS, youth and runaways to the community.