National Runaway Switchboard (NRS)

The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) serves as the federally designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth. Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, handles an average of 100,000 calls annually—more than 3 million calls since the organization’s inception. NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Location: 3080 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Crisis Hotline: 1-800-RUNAWAY. All calls are free, anonymous and confidential.
Web site: www.1800runaway.org
Founded: In 1971—originally named Metro Help to fill a need for comprehensive crisis intervention for young people in Chicago. In 1974—National Runaway Switchboard receives federal grant to establish a national crisis hotline.
Mission: To keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.
Leadership: Maureen Blaha, Executive Director
Between 15 – 20 members of the Board of Directors
Volunteers: NRS’ volunteers are engaged in a number of activities supporting the agency, but most serve as front line team members, “liners”, handling crisis calls in the 24-hour call center. Each liner completes 40 hours of specialized training to provide hotline support to callers from across the country. Other volunteers serve as task force members to help plan activities such as Spirit of Youth and National Runaway Prevention Month. another group of volunteers serve as ambassadors—Street Teams—across the country to promote NRS by distributing runaway prevention and educational materials and 1-800-RUNAWAY promotional materials. Volunteers are of every age and socio-economic background.
Statistics: NRS compiles a wide range of data and statistics on runaway and at-risk youth. Visit the research section to view NRS call statistics, NRS trend analysis of calls dating back to 2000, third-party statistics, and a media source book.
Services:
  • Crisis Intervention: NRS operates a hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All calls to the crisis line are anonymous and confidential.
  • Information & Referrals: A database of more than 13,000 youth and family agencies provides countless options for callers to access counseling, alternative housing, basic center/shelter services, alcohol/drug treatment, and child protective services. In addition, NRS maintains a hard copy library of reference materials to supplement the database.
  • Conference Calls: When youth request assistance contacting their family or an agency that can help them, NRS facilitates a conference call. The front line team member remains on the line with the youth, helping to advocate in support of the youth.
  • Message Service: NRS maintains a message service for youth who want to relay a message but are not ready to directly communicate with their parent. NRS’ message service is the least intimidating means for a youth to reestablish contact with the parent/guardian and often serves as the first step toward reunification.
  • Home Free: In partnership with Greyhound Lines Inc., NRS helps reunite runaway youth with their families through a free bus ticket home. More than 13,000 youth have been reunited with families through the Home Free Program since 1995.
  • Prevention and Educational Materials: Educators can receive a free copy of the Let’s Talk, Runaway Prevention Curriculum, complete with an eight-minute film, 1-800-RUNAWAY. NRS provides educational and promotional material free of charge to individuals and organizations to distribute within their community.
  • www.1800runaway.org: NRS’ website has three main goals: to direct calls to the hotline so youth and families can receive individualized attention and support; to engage youth and families so they can access critical information before a runaway episode occurs; and to disseminate information about NRS, youth and runaways to the community.
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