What makes a young teen leave home? What makes a young adult, a child, decide to give up what he has so that he can shiver on the streets, starve for food, turn to drugs, prostitution and often suicide? These thoughts crowd my mind. I worry about our children, their children and the future of our community. So many young people are living in cardboard boxes, panhandling for food, becoming ill and leaving their belongings, homes and family all behind.
Perhaps they don't understand what lies ahead. Perhaps they don't understand fear. Perhaps the fear they have stems from home. Are they being abused, molested or beaten? We as a society, all of us parents, grandparents, teachers, law enforcement, librarians, store clerks, truck drivers, brothers, sisters and doctors, we need to wake up and find out what is happening to our youth. Some teens may appear to be confident and strong but they need our help. They need to know they are loved, that they have a future, a chance, a right to be here. We need to encourage them, support them and love them. They are but children approaching adulthood, not yet the adults they may think they are. Why do they leave? What can we do? What are signs of a trouble teen? Where can we find them when they run? Where can a teen find help?
The issue of teenagers running away from home is growing and is of concern among the local high schools in southern California. Teens don't know where to turn or where to go. Parents don't know how to help. Law enforcement can't help. Resources are limited.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment