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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2011)
Street roots May 27, 2011 I l r * ’ 1 l " * Runaway Switchboard provides youth with resources without judgment BY MEGAN MILLARD C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R A young man calls 1-800 RUNAWAY because he does not get along with his mom’s new boyfriend. He wants to know if there are any places in his area that would provide him with a place to stay for a few months until he goes off to college. This young man represents just one of the approximately 300 calls every day received by the National Runaway Switchboard .(NRS), Located in Chicago, the organization fields calls from all over the United States. One of the National Runaway Switchboard’s volunteers searches for a resource to give the young man as he waits on the other line. While the volunteer searches for facilities in the requested area, often volunteers have no indication of where in -the United States callers are located. “We do not have caller I.D., we don’t know (where they are),” said Maureen Blaha, executive director of the NRS. In fact, the purpose of the NRS is to provide youth with assistance without judgment. “This is a safe place to call,” Blaha said. While it may seem like a problem that doesn’t hold much weight, th e numbers are overwhelming. According to Blaha and the NRS web site, 1800Runaway.org, between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away each year. “It’s really an overwhelming number,” Blaha said. *1think of it as a silent crisis.” Blaha said that the statistics highlight a problem that exists throughout the country. While kidnappings and abductions may seem like a major issue, Blaha said that the number is miniscule compared to the . « ; number of youth who run away. According to Blaha, often people are under the impression that kids who run away are troubled, being labeled as “bad kids.” She said most often the youth are running away from bad situations. Many of the calls fielded by the NRS have to do with family dynamics, much like the situation of the young man mentioned above. There may be a divorce in the family or youth struggling to get along with stepparents. Additionally, calls may be tied to a youth feeling as though they have disappointed a parent. In cases with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth, there are some parents who do not accept the sexual orientation of the child. Another factor to be considered is whether or not the youth was thrown out of the home or left willingly. NRS 2010 statistics collected for a Why They Run report showed that almost half (48 percent) of youth described being kicked out of their home, while 30 percent said they ran away. The remaining 22 percent described their situation as being a combination of both. Blaha said that certain situations could lead a youth to believe they could make it on their own, and then realize it is not easy. “It’s very unsafe on the streets,” she said. On March 23, the NRS launched its Live Chat service, which serves to provide assistance to youth via the web. NRS volunteers discuss options for youth, but also take calls from adults. A situation that NRS has found themselves dealing with in the past is when a youth calls and asks the NRS volunteer to inform her family member he or she is all right Parents can sometimes be desperate in obtaining information that the NRS often does not have, such as the whereabouts of their child. While Blaha said the NRS tries to reunite families when possible, it does not force such meetings. It only offers resources for youth in crisis and sometimes serves as a messenger'between the two».- For example^ • the youth can call and leave a message for a parent, should the parent choose to call, A parent can also leave a message for a youth if a youth decides to call. Originally published by Streetwise, Chicago, III. © www.streetnewsservice.org I chose to advertise in Street Roots because I know its readers believe in helping people who are trying to help themselves. I’ve spent a number of years abusing meth and alcohol. Jason Breedlove I’ve spent half of the last 17 years clean/sober and most of it was spent inside a correctional facility in Iowa. I’ve written a book about my experiences. “1065131 ” by Jason Breedlove is available at Powell’s, Reading Frenzy and on Kindle. 11 À KZ A Crumb is Drawn Aside Jay Thiemeyer a crumb is drawn aside and reminded that there are times when to forget, when to remember, what grandeur put me here and why those times are wasted on judgments usually found early on to be wrong- sometimes the mistake takes longer- to first realize, then accept To ignore the real: is it worth it? I wonder, mull it over too long. I lose the value of segregating what I believe is good from bad The weight is indicated in how preoccupied I am in condemning myself or exalting myself... what’s wrong with this brief idle moment I’m in? THIS moment I have fought against so long- what’s wrong with being left alone to be free and silent? it’s always, it seems, too often unfitting to judge who's a crumb or who’s on top only time can judge and its advice is 'don't judge'- what's the need? Why fight futility? Or dreams? Who benefits? Crumbs add up, serve as their own provision though I recognize the need for both good days and bad, what’s forever wrong, or right, but why curse and toss things without hope? Why rush having the last word or showing my crumby side? I at odd ends and crumbs may well be where I am today, and if not, then the next or-1 may find myself happy, in the saddle and headlong into the day following. , So many days pass too quickly and start too late and end so utterly against my expectations, a truism I can take or leave alone- so why let my better judgment prove me a fool? crumb, take heed, your time may already have passed just let things be for now I M other N ature s E arth F riendly B aby P roducts Large selection of cloth diapers & wraps, natural baby & mama care products, baby slings & carriers, organic cotton baby clothes, wooden toys, personal service 2 627 3035 S E. Division • Portland, OR 97202 503.234.7499 li SE C linton 503-230-7077 S t .
