If a youth is under 16 and runs away, he/she may be picked up by a police officer and returned home. This is a status offense and may result in a referral to Family Court. Running away is not considered a legal offense if you are 16 or older. If a juvenile under the age of 16 gives false information, the youth can be considered a runaway until proven otherwise.
Running away is not an infrequent response of young people to conflicts which they encounter, especially within the home. To just "take off", however, doesn't, in most cases solve the underlying problems and, at the same time, adds new pressures.
National toll-free hotlines can be called to talk confidentially and anonymously.
1-800-621-4000, 1-800-231-6946, and 1-800-999-9999
PROJECT TURNING POINT 623-3461, x333,334 HOTLINE 623-6939
135 Convent Road, (St. Agatha's grounds) Nanuet 10954
Contact: Maria Foncellino
Temporary emergency short-term shelter available to youth under 18, 24 hours/ 7 days/week. 24 hour Hotline, crisis intervention, individual and family counseling, preventative counseling for those at-risk of running away or being homeless, information and referral for other services if needed.
T.E.C.A.R. 358-4421 (Temporary Emergency Care for Adolescents of Rockland) 358-5524
8 Gillis Avenue, Nyack 10960
Contact: Bella Angel Intake 359-3400, x224
A community-based temporary care group home operated by St. Dominic's Home and funded by the Rockland County Department of Social Services. TECAR is a short-term, crisis intervention facility for adolescents and it provides individual and family counseling, and conflict resolution for youth (ages 13-18) for a period of up to 3 months.
ROCKLAND FAMILY SHELTER 634-3344
2 Congers Rd., New City 10956
Director: Carolyn Fish
Temporary shelter for battered women and their children.
Other listening posts might be:
After the emergency situation is over, both Mental Health Services Mental Health and Parenting Options Parenting might be helpful.
ROCKLAND COUNTY SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN (SPCC) 735-2666
Contact: Jim Kilcullen, John Comparetto or any supervisor
Program locates and brings back runaway children.
FINGERPRINTING PROGRAM through local police departments is voluntary (only parents keep copies of fingerprints) and provides a possible identification aid in abduction or runaway cases.