Runaway Storm
According to the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), California lead the nation with 16,909 runaways in 2008. Teen runaways is a national crisis with over 1.3 million runaways in America that often leads to a life of stealing, drugs, prostitution and begging.
Dawne Knobbe tackles the subject of teen runaways in her new young adult book, Runaway Storm. Nate, a 15-year-old runaway learns that running away is not the answer to solving one's problems in life.
Nate ventures into a cross country trip when he leaves New York to the Gulf Islands of Vancouver after his parents divorce. Everything seems to fall in place for Nate after finding kayak meant for his birthday; however his venture turns for the worse as his life becomes a struggle for survival as he runs from strangers who intend to harm him and the girl he befriends.
"Kids have a fascination with the idea of running away," says Knobbe. "It's predicted on the idea of being able to handle what's out there, but as Nate's story shows, plans can fail quickly and problems pile up."
The most common reported crisis problem amongst teen runaways in 2008 involved a change or problem in family dynamics. Changes in family dynamics that prompted running away involved divorce, a remarriage or problems with siblings.
Childhood related abuse that involves substance, physical, sexual or neglect often leads to teens running away into a life of further neglect and abuse that often leads to a life of crime.
According to NRS, 2008 statistics revealed a 139 percent increase in panhandling, a 30 percent increase of children enslaved into the sex industry, 49 percent increase in stealing and a 33 percent increase in selling drugs.
The NRS receives over 100,000 calls annually with over half of the callers aged 15 to 17 years. The majority (72 percent) of the callers in crisis are female and the average call is placed within one to three days of being out on the streets.
The National Runaway Switchboard, established in 1971, is a 24-hour, federal national communication system that provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services for the youth.
NRS has handled over three million calls and has reunited over 10,000 of the nation's youth with their families through the Home Free program. The Home Free program sponsored by Greyhound Lines, Inc., provides a free ticket home for America's runaways.
Knobbe is a Vancouver native and the inspiration for the book came to her after she was intrigued by a runaway she met while adventuring on the islands she writes about. Runaway Storm is scheduled to appear in book stores this January 2010.
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Runaway Storm
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