• Try to stay calm. Remember, most runaways return of their own accord.
• Find out what you can about your teen leaving. Was it planned or impulsive? Did he or she go off with
friends?
• Did your teen leave a note? What did he or she take with them?
• Work out whether you think your teen is likely to be safe. Think about where he or she could run to and
what you know about why they left.
• Be prepared to make some changes. If no changes are made to make the situation better, your teen will
likely run again. You may need a third person to “bridge” any conversation in the beginning.
• The fact that you are looking for your teen is reassurance that you care. It doesn’t matter that you have to
give in on everything but that you want to discuss ways to make life better for you all.
• Have an open door attitude to your teen’s return.