Hope for help
Helping teen runaways get off the street is a difficult
task once they become immersed in a self-destructive
lifestyle, but it can be done. For example, Larkin Street
Youth Services, located in San Francisco, devotes itself to
providing support to teens who consider leaving the streets
to become productive members of society. One of the center’s
major challenges is the fact that runaways often do
not want its help. The workers at Larkin Street cannot
force anyone to take advantage of their services. All they
can do is be available for those who are ready to change
their lives.
Though agencies such as Larkin Street are invaluable
resources, many people believe that the most important
thing is to keep kids from running away in the first place.
Education and communication are the main keys to preventing
teens from running away. Organizations exist that
not only teach teens about the dangers of living on the
streets but also are willing to intervene in the home and
help families work out their problems together. These approaches
are not always successful, but many kids do
change their minds about running away once they realize
there are alternatives such as family counseling and foster
care. Again, however, teens and their families must be
willing to take the first step and seek the help they need.
Family members, for example, must recognize their problems
and begin to work toward correcting them by educating
themselves and opening up lines of communication.
Once they accept the support and encouragement they
need to build healthy relationships, they are less likely to
lose their teen to the streets.