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New York, 6:01 PM
Mon Nov 9
52 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/26/09
10/26/09
[www.1800runaway.org]
[www.nationalsafeplace.org]
If you wanna help: volunteer, donate some goods, spread the word that there is help, that there are people who care. #runaways
10/26/09
One thing that wasn't mentioned is how many of these kids that have been kicked out of their homes or are fleeing abuse in the home are LGBT, and that's one of the reasons they were kicked out or were abused. A disproportionate number of the homeless teens and the teens in foster care in San Francisco are LGBT, and disproportionately are from across the Western United States, especially the more conservative/Mormon states. Same thing with the homeless kids in Seattle and Portland. A lot of them come here because they feel they won't be judged for their sexuality in SF. Problem is, they get here and it's the most expensive housing in the United States bar NYC, and they can't even afford to flop at a SRO (single residence occupancy) hotel in the Tenderloin. #runaways
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
Honestly, when I read this story, I wondered how lucky she really is. Who knows what her family situation is, and whether or not she's better off with them or on the streets. #runaways
10/26/09
10/26/09
When do you move on with your life as a parent? Are you ever actually happy they're gone? Anyway, good for a listen.
[www.thisamericanlife.org]
10/26/09
Of course that means there ought to be better solutions that the cops, social workers et al can use. But what, I wonder?
Loosening up emancipated minor laws so these kids can legally separate from abusive parents earlier? Free boarding schools in cities? Free live-in rehab centers for addicts? The orphanages and work houses that existed in the early 20th century were pretty grim, but they addressed the needs that modern runaways have. Is there a way to do that without a return to poor, exploitative conditions?
10/26/09
There ought to be a way to help connect these kids with extended family or family friends/neighbors who could take them in. #runaways
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
And what was even more shocking was the realization that the runaway might have just upgraded their life by leaving home due to abuse and the massive failure of the foster care system (where many kids have suffered abuse).
Washington state had a big runaway problem. In fact, I think it's the only state where it is straight up illegal to run. Many kids get scooped up and put into the criminal system, so this could be another reason why this situation was such a clusterfuck.
As a side note, and I hate to get servicey, but the line's number is 1-800-runaway. If you are thinking of running or just need to think things out, it's staffed 24-7.
10/26/09
When I volunteered as a crisis liner for the Nat'l Runaway Switchboard in Chicago, it was shocking to hear the amount of times parents were just "meh" about their teenager being missing.
And what was even more shocking was the realization that the runaway might have just upgraded their life by leaving home due to abuse and the massive failure of the foster care system (where many kids have suffered abuse)."
What you say chills and saddens me, even if I'm not at all surprised at the "meh" of so many parents.
It is disheartening, to say the least, that the foster care system fails kids whose parents may or may not really want to be reunited with their children....for the unwanted? The sick? Kids adrift? Where will they go?
Is there any state, any COUNTRY on this earth, that knows how to handle both groups--abused children that the state plans to reunite with families (or at least, keep with relatives) AND those who run because life on the streets is better than life with abuse? #runaways
10/23/09
10/23/09
But yeah, they still like to beat the crap out of people. #policebrutality
10/23/09
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10/23/09